It is the spooky season! The time of rich orange pumpkins being carved, the scent of fresh apple cider and cinnamon, and creepy sounds in the distance. These vivid images remind us that Halloween is just around the corner, and while we’re relishing in the seasonal delights, a scary ghoul may give us a fright! 

Costume contests are a must-have Halloween staple due to their fun and competitive spirit. Introducing a family Halloween costume contest or costume showcase can infuse even more amusing memories into such a spirited time of the year. 

Here’s our guide on how to make your costume contest unique to your family and loved ones, ensuring it’s an unforgettable and enjoyable venture for everyone:

Create a Theme – or Choose Someone to Pick the Theme – Each Year

When it comes to choosing a Halloween costume, it can sometimes feel like there are too many options to choose from. Whether you want to go classic with a witch or vampire or bring in new school characters from pop culture, narrowing down the choices may take longer than you and your family want. 

Save yourself from the hassle of indecision by picking a theme for your Halloween costume contest. You can go with vintage icons like Frankenstein, find whimsy with Disney, try Nintendo game characters, and more. The options are endless, and you’re sure to land on a theme everyone feels excited to follow. Each year, one family member can be the designated theme judge and announce what the annual costume contest will be centered around. 

Don’t forget to collect mementos that fit your theme to include with the photos after your contest and commemorate the occasion! 

Decide What Colors or Costumes are NOT Included

While adding a theme to your Halloween contest can create some healthy competition as the family finds their costume, you can incorporate some creative obstacles, too. Simply pick a color that cannot be included in any costume – everyone is sure to be excited for that kind of challenge. Can you imagine Frankenstein without the color green? These kinds of unique take on costumes will make your contest one of a kind and memorable for years to come.

Alternatively, if you choose a theme that has an obvious costume to go along with it, such as Mickey Mouse and Disney, you can set parameters that do not include certain ones. If you know that your little ones may argue over who gets to be what character, remove the tension and take that character off the list. They will have a great time thinking up who they could dress up as and never feel like they missed out on a costume because their sibling wanted it.

Center the Costumes Around One Item or Accessory

Looking for an even bigger challenge? Combine a theme with an accessory and see what your family comes up with. A boutique bracelet could make a fantastic centerpiece for a costume and will allow everyone to flex their thinking muscles to find the right outfit for their Halloween costume. If you come across an elegant bracelet with blue hues, and your theme is Disney, everyone can have fun researching which characters have blue accessories and maybe even wore one in their movie.

Choosing a more non-specific item, like a deep orange blouse, is great for a creative-minded family. Being a human pumpkin or discovering what icons in history are known for adorning themselves in tangerine hues are just a couple of the endless results you’ll be surprised by when the contest is presented to your family.

Include Photo and Art Contests for Costumes

Looking for an option when your family is long-distance? Prefer to have an introvert-friendly or more artistic Halloween costume contest for your family? Explore your options with photo-based costume contests.

Everyone can dress up in their items and snap a spooky season-themed photo to be submitted as their entry. This is a great option for shy kids or those who prefer to present their looks in a specific way. If members of the family are not physically present, a Zoom or FaceTime call is an easy way to feel included (and participate in the contest themselves)!

You can also utilize photos as an art entry for the costume contest. If you’re looking for a more artistic approach, allow your family members to create their costumes as a piece of art – digital art with clips or sketches – for submission. The final product can be showcased for the family to see and vote on or offer their words of support as positive feedback.

Visit Your Local Thrift Store and Let Your Creativity Soar

Do you feel like you prefer a more free-spirited approach to your costume planning and contest preparation? A favorite method is to bring your family to a thrift store and challenge them to find their costume with what’s available at one store. This frees up the mind to be open to any possibility that presents itself and allows creativity to soar. 

To prevent an excessive amount of costume items in your cart, set a price or item amount limit. This ensures that everyone participating has the same number of items to use and keeps the family budget happy. 

Dress Up

Whether you’re looking for a new family tradition to bring in or simply want a fun adventure to mark your Halloween this season, a family costume contest is a classic and much-loved option to consider. From having a theme to follow and embrace to setting specific costume limits, it will help everyone find their unique direction and costume that they love. Choosing one item that everyone shares in their costume can create unity and a shared experience, and offering an alternative submission option ensures that you are including everyone without pressure. 

Whether you’re taking an open-ended interpretation or a specific direction with your family Halloween costume contest, it will be one of the most treasured events you and your loved ones will look back on for years.