Hogtown Mascots is Toronto's go-to place for mascot costumes. They’ve been building custom mascot characters since 2006, designing them for schools, sports teams, corporations, and charities.

Founders John Kernaghan and George Civello combine TV, theme-park, and business expertise to make mascots that look fantastic. These costumes hold up under pressure and stay comfortable for whoever’s inside. They take care of everything from the first doodle to the final high-five. Show them your sketch or your verbal pitch, and they’ll design, build, accessories, clean, repair, and store your mascot like it’s part of the family. They can even supply the performer or train yours.

Need extras? They’ll do plush toys, props, and even fit the costume with a cooling system so you don’t sweat through your giant foam badger head. You can choose your licensing setup too, from a casual shared-use arrangement to full ownership of your mascot’s identity.

People think highly of Hogtown Mascots. The first thing they talk about is how good the costumes look, like they’ve been designed by someone with taste. They love the clean silhouettes, striking faces, rich textures, and finishes that hold up under lights, sweat, or chaos.

Communication scores high. The team listens, translates fuzzy ideas into workable sketches, and keeps feedback loops clear. Customers feel like their input matters, and the final build reflects that. You get fewer surprises and more “yes, that is exactly the mascot in my head, only better.”

Candy’s Costume Shop has been making Toronto a little more fabulous since 2008, and they do it all year long. Inside, the costume store is packed with the good stuff. We’re talking masquerade masks that make you feel mysterious, theatrical wigs that could win their own awards, special-effects makeup for your inner zombie, hats of every possible attitude, and costumes that cover everything from superheroes to 70s disco.

They stock plenty of costumes for kids and adults, so no one has to feel left out of the dress-up game. They’ve got an online shop too, with shipping across Canada, so even if you’re not in Toronto, your dream of owning a sparkly pirate hat is still alive.

Ask around and you’ll hear the same thing. Candy’s Costume Shop is where you go when you want costumes you’ll actually be excited to wear. Inside, it’s busy in the best way. Racks for adults, racks for kids, wigs, makeup, masks, capes, props, and little extras you didn’t think of until you saw them. You can walk in with nothing but a vague vibe in mind and walk out ready for the spotlight.

Peak season is wild, so the early birds do get the best of the rare finds. Even so, latecomers don’t leave empty-handed thanks to clever swaps and accessories that pull it all together. Prices are high, but they match the fact that you’re in a specialty shop. Most people leave with bags, grins, and a mental note to tell their friends.

Spirit Halloween is the yearly signal that spooky season has arrived, and they do it on a massive scale. With over 1,500 pop-up stores across the US and Canada, they take empty retail spaces and turn them into haunted playgrounds for anyone with a love of costumes.

From August to early November, you can walk into a Spirit Halloween and find costumes for every age, plus wigs, makeup, masks, lighting effects, props, animatronics, and even outfits for your dog. The stores are arranged by theme so you can get inspired without having to dig through random bins of polyester capes.

They go all in on atmosphere too. Some locations feature full sets like Spirit Hallows Cemetery, Reaper’s Island, or a Monster Laboratory, complete with exclusive animatronics that jump at you when you least expect it. They also offer “buy online, pick up in-store” for when you need a vampire cape right now.

Spirit Halloween lands every year like a travelling circus. One week it’s an empty storefront, the next it’s crammed with costumes, props, and animatronics that lunge at you. It’s half shop, half theme park for people who love Halloween. For a lot of shoppers, the visit is the point. You can wander through fake graveyards or dodge zombie butlers. Even if you leave with nothing, you’ve still had a free haunted house run-through.

Some costumes look incredible in the store lighting, then turn flimsy once you’re actually wearing them. The return process can be smooth for some and stubborn for others. And yes, the prices can make you raise an eyebrow, especially if you were expecting high quality from a rubber severed hand. Even so, the stock changes every year, there’s always a weird gem hiding on a shelf, and the seasonal buzz is hard to beat.

L&M on Queen West is a fandom store in the middle of downtown Toronto. They’ve got rare Funko Pop! figures, Hello Kitty gear, and enough crystal jewellery to add sparkle to any outfit. The place is a collector heaven. When it comes to costumes, they don’t mess around. You can pick up full cosplay sets, like Tanjiro from Demon Slayer, or grab iconic props like the Portgas D. Ace hat from One Piece. There are heat-resistant wigs in every length and colour you could imagine, plus LARP gear if you’re more into swinging foam swords than watching from the sidelines.

L&M on Queen West is open most days from morning to evening, with Wednesdays by appointment, whether you’re a local or just wandering Queen West with a coffee in hand. If you’re into anime, cosplay, or just like the thrill of finding something wonderfully weird, this store delivers.

Inside L&M on Queen West, it’s wall-to-wall fandom. Shelves packed with anime accessories, cosplay wigs in every shade of unnatural hair, and Funkos watching you from every angle. The costume section is perfect for cosplayers. Whether you’re hunting for Halloween armour, convention-perfect hair, or just a reason to answer the door dressed as a forest spirit, you’ll probably find it here.

Prices lean friendly, which makes it dangerously easy to collect “just a couple” of keychains, stickers, or accessories that somehow multiply in your bag. Ask regulars and they’ll tell you the same thing. L&M is the best place in Toronto to grab anime wigs and cosplay costumes.

Thunder Thighs Costumes has opened its Toronto costume store since 1978, starting with one rack of film clothing in Lynda Kemp’s garage. Now it’s a full warehouse with more than seven million pieces, which is enough to clothe an entire city in vintage jackets, period dresses, and suspiciously specific hats.

The collection covers everything from rare historical outfits to instantly recognizable character costumes to modern looks that still have that cinematic quality. They supply film, TV, theatre, and commercial productions in Canada and beyond, so you’re as likely to see their work on screen as you are at a stage door.

Thunder Thighs is basically Toronto’s costume vault. The range is ridiculous in the best way. You'll find rare suits, red carpet gowns, leather jackets, and one-of-a-kind looks. Film crews, stage managers, commercial producers, and indie directors all treat it like a one-stop shop.

The magic is not just in the clothes. The staff know their stock inside out and can find you the perfect piece for whatever you're filming. They’ll hand you the exact waistcoat you didn’t know your lead character needed and style it so it looks like it came straight from the set. Best of all, they work with everyone, whether you’re running a major network show or trying to make a student film on a budget.

Kol Kid is Toronto’s go-to store for parents who want their kids to look stylish. It’s an independent shop with a mix of locally made treasures and unique finds from around the world. Their “Dress Up & Make Believe” collection is basically a creativity starter pack. We’re talking capes, crowns, animal ears, and all the accessories a kid needs to turn the living room into their own movie set. The focus is on costumes that inspire storytelling, so your little one can be a superhero in the morning and a pirate by dinner.

Beyond the dress-up corner, Kol Kid carries children’s clothing from brands like Mini Rodini, Misha and Puff, and 1 + in the Family, plus shoes from Hunter, New Balance, Salt Water Sandals, and more. The toy selection leans toward things that make kids curious, keep them busy, and give parents a few blessed minutes of quiet.

Kol Kid has been open since 1999, quietly outlasting trends and big-box competitors by being an excellent shop. The shelves are full of carefully chosen items like handmade toys, clever clothes, and décor that works in a kid’s room. The prices are friendlier than you expect for pieces that are imported.

The clothing and toys get most of the attention, but the costume rack deserves attention. From princess dresses to mummy costumes, they are ideal if your child has a flair for the dramatic. Everything is designed so kids can actually run around in it.

Party City Canada is basically the country’s one-stop shop for party supplies. They’ve got party goods, costumes, seasonal décor, balloons, and all the accessories you didn’t know you needed until you saw them. You can shop in-store or online, order balloon bouquets, and even get same-day pickup or delivery.

Halloween gets its own spotlight under the Halloween City banner, complete with costumes, decorations, and animatronics that will absolutely scare the postman. And while the American side of Party City had its financial drama, the Canadian stores stayed steady without interruption.

Party City is like walking into a party supply multiverse. Balloons in every colour, costumes for every personality, tableware to match every theme, and aisles full of things you didn’t know you needed. For in-person shopping, the variety is hard to beat. You can cover birthdays, Halloween, baby showers, and backyard luaus in one lap of the store.

There are mixed reviews about shopping online, especially costumes. Some customers get their orders quickly and without fuss. Yet, others end up chasing delayed shipments, missing items, or wrestling with return policies.

Woodbridge Costume Rentals has been dressing up Toronto, Vaughan, and the GTA since 1994. They’ve got enough outfits to turn your average Tuesday into opening night. Whether you want to be a 1920s gangster, a 1970s disco king, an 1800s steampunk adventurer, or just the best-dressed superhero at the party, they’ve got thousands of costumes ready to go.

It’s by appointment only, which means you actually get someone’s full attention while you pick, try on, and perfect your look. They also have more accessories than you’d think possible. Hats, wigs, masks (from masquerade to full latex), jewellery, props, makeup, special effects gear, contact lenses, even the right shoes to match your outfit.

Since 1994, Woodbridge Costumes has been the go-to for anyone who needs a costume that looks right and fits well. The period costumes are the most popular. Tunics, gowns, armour are all detailed enough to make a history buff nod approvingly. You get the look, the feel, and the comfort of something made to last more than one wear.

It’s not just history, either. They’ve got plenty for the silly, the spooky, and the themed-party crowd. Woodbridge Costumes is where you go for great-looking costumes and staff who make the whole process enjoyable.

Theatrix Costume House has been dressing Canada’s stages, screens, and Halloween parties for more than 50 years. With a store location in Hamilton, they’ve got over 50,000 costumes plus wigs, makeup, mascots, and accessories to make any production look glamorous. Their racks hold everything from extravagant historical gowns to modern outfits. Sizes cover a wide range, which means you can actually costume an entire cast.

If you need something unique, their in-house atelier will design and build it, which is ideal if your vision involves a level of drama not currently available off the rack. Their Hamilton showroom is a bright 1,200-square-foot space where you can try on costumes, put together ensembles, or just explore the extensive catalogue.

Theatrix is where you go when you want costumes that look spectacular. Their collection of 50,000 pieces is ridiculous in the best way. Everything looks ready for the stage or camera. Whether it’s a full-blown theatre production, a film shoot, or a themed gala, the costumes have that “yes, this will photograph beautifully” energy.

If they don’t already have exactly what you need, they can make it or tweak an existing piece. Service runs like clockwork. Staff know their way around the stock, help you find the right fit, and make shopping for costumes feel easy.

Fantastic Creations has been keeping Toronto’s film, TV, and theatre worlds looking dangerously authentic since 1988. Based in Scarborough, they’ve spent more than 27 years filling productions with everything from simple wooden clubs to fully convincing 17th-century cannons.

The prop selection is massive. Swords, armour, shields, even wardrobe pieces that make you look like you’ve stepped straight out of history or a very expensive fantasy drama. They rent out costumes too, from period outfits to modern looks to character wardrobes that match perfectly with their armour and props. If you’re trying to tell a story on screen or stage, you could kit out your entire cast in one stop.

Fantastic Creations is the place you go when you need your props and c ostumes to look like they came straight out of history, fantasy, or somewhere in between. Their inventory is massive. One minute you’re holding a medieval mace, the next you’re eyeing a pirate coat or a 1920s flapper dress. Every piece is built to survive the chaos of filming or a long theatre run.

The team makes it easy. They know the stock, they listen, and they figure out solutions that fit both the look and the budget. Custom work gets the same care as the ready-to-rent pieces, and they’ll tweak details until it feels right.