A black mechanical bat hung from the ceiling and flew around in circles as students shopped at the temporary Halloween Warehouse Superstore in preparation for Halloween next Thursday.

From large afros to fake blood, the store housed many of the items students need to capture the Halloween spirit.

Business senior Choey Sookthis, a saleswoman at the 115 E. Grand River Ave. store, said students are choosing nontraditional costumes this year.

“A lot of people seem to be going for the more risqué-themed costumes,” she said. “We sold out of the naughty nurse costumes, and people really seem to like the Hugh Heffner costume, along with the trailer park king and princess costumes.”

This year, students say they plan to celebrate Halloween with friends, at parties and while eating lots of candy.

“I plan on spending Halloween with my friends,” mathematics sophomore Necia Godzisz said. “We plan to hang out, and enjoy as much free candy as we can.”

Safe Halloween, sponsored by the Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils will take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. today on M.A.C. Avenue between Elizabeth Street and Burcham Drive.

The event will allow children to participate in events such as face-painting, bobbing for apples and a haunted house. There also will be an inflated apparatus with a moonwalk, ball pit, slide and Velcro wall. Cider and donuts will be served as well.

Staff writer Jason Carmel Davis contributed to this report.