I shopped at Michaels and Hobby Lobby for fall decor. The winner really depends on which holiday you’re shopping for.

• I shopped at Michaels and Hobby Lobby for seasonal fall and Halloween decor.
• Michaels had lots of Halloween decorations, but Hobby Lobby’s selection was more fall-themed.
• If you’re a Halloween fan, shop at Michaels. If you prefer Thanksgiving, go to Hobby Lobby.

Halloween has long been one of my favorite holidays to decorate for, and I start unpacking bins and preparing my house early in September.

But that’s just the start of the season — I also enjoy Thanksgiving and all things fall, and I’m always down to add new pieces to my decor collection.

So, I headed to two of my favorite places to find such things, Michaels and Hobby Lobby, to see what each chain has on offer this fall.

Both craft stores had comparable prices and sales, plus plenty of seasonal merchandise in stock, even in mid-September when I shopped. However, one was in full Halloween mode, and the other had distinctly thankful vibes.

Here’s how Hobby Lobby and Michaels’ autumnal offerings compared.

Michaels was in full Halloween mode.

Michaels was full of Halloween decorations and hosting basics, from colorful skeletons to baking supplies covered in skulls and black cats.

Though I found a few small sections with fall and Thanksgiving-related decor, it’s clear that Michaels is more of a destination for all things Halloween, right down to its aisles full of smiling ceramic jack-o’-lanterns ripe for painting.

Hobby Lobby felt like the perfect place to buy Thanksgiving and fall-themed items.

Hobby Lobby doesn’t sell Halloween merchandise, which I’ve known from my previous visits to the store. (Hobby Lobby’s CEO is a devout Christian, and some Christians view Halloween as a pagan holiday and don’t celebrate it.)

Instead, the craft store goes all in with fall and Thanksgiving items, like wall art emblazoned with phrases about gratitude and lots of decor that’s clearly fall-driven and not at all spooky.

Walking through the aisles of Hobby Lobby at this time of year channels memories of all things autumn, like falling leaves, hot pumpkin-spice lattes, and a beautifully set Thanksgiving table.

Many of the seasonal kids’ crafts at Michaels were Halloween-themed.

My kids are teenagers now, but I still pay attention to the kids’ crafts on offer at craft stores because my daughter takes them along with her on babysitting jobs.

At Michaels, most of the crafts on display were Halloween-themed. I spotted spooky bracelet-making kits, Halloween paint sets, and other crafts featuring ghosts, witches, jack-o’-lanterns, and skeletons.

Hobby Lobby had tons of Thanksgiving-themed kids’ crafts in stock.

The crafts at Hobby Lobby would be perfect to put on the kids’ table at Thanksgiving. Instead of ghosts and ghouls, the kits here were themed around turkeys, scarecrows, fall foliage, and pumpkins.

I really loved the pink Halloween items at Michaels.

I’m always excited to see which creative themed Halloween collections the Michaels team comes up with every fall. This year, they ranged from gothic and dark to pink and sparkly.

The latter, also called the sweet and spooky collection, features tons of cute Halloween decorations, from wreaths with pink jack-o’-lanterns to large pink ghosts with sparkly accessories.

I picked up a few new items from this collection to brighten up my current orange-and-black Halloween decor lineup.

Hobby Lobby was the place for yummy-smelling fall candles.

Hobby Lobby’s seasonal candle aisle is unmatched, and my teenage daughter and I spent a lot of time here smelling different scents and deciding which to bring home.

The aisle had basic jar candles with classic autumnal smells, like apple and pumpkin, plus decorative ones in pretty containers or with cute accessories attached.

Go to Michaels if you’re looking for scary decor.

Since Michaels leans heavily into Halloween decorations, it’s the place to go if you prefer scary seasonal decor.

I spotted familiar monsters and creepy creatures like Frankenstein and bats throughout the store.

Michaels also seemed to have all the necessities for a chilling Halloween display, from animatronic ghosts and rubber rats to plastic dismembered body parts and jumbo spiders.

Shop at Hobby Lobby if you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year.

My local Hobby Lobby was filled with decor items that would look stunning as part of a Thanksgiving tablescape.

There seemed to be something for just about every aesthetic, from elegant glass pumpkins to kitschy figurines of scarecrows and turkeys.

I could’ve spent hours perusing the displays of decor options and Instagram-worthy arrangements that would make Martha Stewart proud.

I appreciated that Michaels had a Día de los Muertos section.

Michaels once again had a section full of Día de los Muertos items, something I’ve spotted there over the past few years.

The display contained materials one might need for making an ofrenda, an altar to honor deceased loved ones, and calacas, colorful skeletons that are often a part of Día de los Muertos displays.

And I found many items for football season at Hobby Lobby.

My family loves watching football, so I was excited to find plenty of merchandise at Hobby Lobby that felt fit for the season.

From football-themed accessories to serving plates, the store had everything you’d need for hosting a tailgating party or having a few friends over to watch the NFL on a Sunday afternoon.

My Hobby Lobby had also begun setting up its Christmas displays.

Though it’s barely fall, my local Hobby Lobby had several aisles of Christmas decor set up already.

If you’re trying to buy a pre-lit tree before the good ones sell out or are just looking to get excited for December, this is the place to go.

All in all, Michaels is the best place to shop for Halloween decorations.

If you’re looking for true Halloween items like spooky yard decorations, creepy crafts, and ghostly home decor, Michaels is the place to shop.

I especially like how the retailer comes out with new themed collections each year. Because of this, Michaels is always one of the first places I check out when I want to add a few new items to my Halloween-decor rotation.

However, Hobby Lobby is a great spot for fall fans and Thanksgiving hosts.

If Halloween isn’t your thing, or you like to decorate for Thanksgiving once the spooky decor gets packed away, it’s worth checking out Hobby Lobby.

The retailer has everything you’d need for hosting fall gatherings — and it’s just a nice place to stroll through with a PSL in hand to get your fill of pumpkin-scented candles, turkey-shaped throw pillows, and other autumnal treasures.

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