[jackrum]

So this is my third halloween in my house. This is my first house and from the minute we bought it I was excited to finally be and to decorate for halloween. You can't really decorate an apartment for halloween and the kids in Queens don't go door to door so even if you do nobody really sees it anyway. Now that I'm in the Jersey burbs and I have a house I try to do as much as my budget and time allow. The first year wasn't a bad effort and several neighbors came over to introduce themselves Halloween night because they liked it so much but last year I really think I hit my stride. I built cemetery columns at the end of my driveway with a gate. I made a PVC fence around the yard. I also stuffed the yard with as many tombstones I could afford. I made a full size Weeping Angel for my porch and filled it with spider webs, ex-cetera. I dressed up as one of The Gentlemen from Buffy and scared a lot of kids. This year I'm stumped on what to do for a costume. I could try to perfect the costume from last year...it was passable but I rushed the makeup....but I don't want to repeat myself to much. I kinda like the idea of being Gruncle Stan from Gravity Falls and I've wanted to make a Mr Softee costume for years but neither one of those would really fit in with the cemetery theme I have going and aren't really scary. Do you guys always match your costume to your haunt?

 

[Frankie's Girl]

I most the time don't wear a costume (usually my HF shirt, or other appropriate general Halloween tee-shirt and jeans). The husband sometimes wears costumes, but it's mostly if he feels like standing out in the yard to scare the older kids otherwise he wears the same thing as me.

I feel like I put up a great display for my area, and me being in costume is not as vital, and I want to be comfortable (we usually sit outside so we can see the kids).

I think if you're really into it, then staying in theme is good, and there is nothing wrong with having a recognizable character every Halloween (especially when you consider that there will always be kids aging out of trick or treating and new ones aging in). BUT there is a really good argument for doing whatever costume you want to each year... even if it isn't in theme, it is still Halloween after all, and a funny, not themed costume could be a nice changeup for the kids (and you).

So I'm not real helpful.

 

[jackrum]

Thanks for the reply. It is a help. This is more of a discussion then something with a definite answer. I did have fun scaring the kids last year. You're right though. A good haunt should be enough and a costume probably isn't even necessary.

 

[Zombastic]

In my garage haunt there is no theme and nothing really matches.
We have all kinds of characters from a creepy clown to zombies, a grim reaper, giant spider in the yard.
I've thought about a particular theme but I'd be limiting myself.
It's all about the kids and the kids don't care.

 

[Tconahaunter]

Our costumes don't necessarily match the haunt. But they match each other. (Everyone in zombie costume, vampire costumes....)

 

[Palladino]

I do a themed haunt so all of the my haunter helper costumes are on topic. However, my costume is usually thrown together last minute so sometimes it can be a little generic.

 

[jackrum]

...
It's all about the kids and the kids don't care.

I'm not sure if it's ALL about the kids. A lot of the kids in my neighborhood wouldn't care if I didn't do anything as long as they get candy.

 

[Zombastic]

I've had quite a few kids catch me in my yard and ask me if I'm doing it again.
I think they love the decorations and the fact the some people go all out. I'm sure big kids like me love it too.

 

[Download]

Hmmm, personally I feel that it adds to the effect if you DO have your costume match, but I don't think it's a rule that you absolutely have to. After all, some people put so much effort into their haunts with decorations going up even on the day, that getting a costume together and getting kitted up can be that one extra thing that makes it all too much work *chuckle*.

Personally I like it when people have their costumes match, but if you only change small aspects of your haunt each year you could end up wearing the same thing every time. Which is fine, but you personally might find that a bit boring after a while

 

[Gym Whourlfeld]

I used to have a "costume'. Black leather knee-high Moccasins,a black cowl/cape and black pants and shirt.
I made a challenge to myself:"Could i wear such a costume, run through this house, without getting strangled when the cape might catch on a door knob or something?
It took awhile,i finally became proficient at not strangling myself.
My major "Costume" is my craggy ,old face. If I don't smile like a lunatic,people think I'm sad or mad (it's just my face!)
This old house has tons of strange history. I might be involved in sort of a "Flash-Back" for this house since I resemble the bartender who worked here for 7 to 8 years between 1890 to 1900.
He was my Great Grandfather. My Parents owned his previous house (that I grew up in)
Heather McAddams, cartoonist,once told me I have the perfect "Job" because the older and uglier I get,the better I fit this old spooky house, right Grandpa?
"What was that,Jim? I wasn't paying attention."

 

[jackrum]

Hmmm, personally I feel that it adds to the effect if you DO have your costume match, but I don't think it's a rule that you absolutely have to. After all, some people put so much effort into their haunts with decorations going up even on the day, that getting a costume together and getting kitted up can be that one extra thing that makes it all too much work *chuckle*.

Personally I like it when people have their costumes match, but if you only change small aspects of your haunt each year you could end up wearing the same thing every time. Which is fine, but you personally might find that a bit boring after a while

I agree with you Download. I'm not changing my haunt that much this year ...just adding a few things. So I don't want to repeat myself to much. Also I don't like limiting my costume to something "scary" because I have a cemetery in my front yard. I know I'm totally over thinking this but then again I guess that's why we're here.

I have figured out what to be. It'll be fun yet spooky. Here's hoping I can get all the make up together and finish the new additions to my haunt. Having a baby and being a procrastinator are really slowing me down.

 

[aero4ever]

My costume doesn't match the haunt and nobody seems to care. They just love that I dress up each year and I've run into kids (not literally!) that remember my costumes years later.

 

[Goog]

We just decorate the yard and have talked about doing a haunt in the garage. We've never gotten around to making a specific theme, but if we did I'd probably dress to match it. The closest is one year I was a ghost bride and sat still in the yard next to the tombstones until trick-or-treaters showed up and then I moved when they got closer. It was a big hit.

 

[jackrum]

We just decorate the yard and have talked about doing a haunt in the garage. We've never gotten around to making a specific theme, but if we did I'd probably dress to match it. The closest is one year I was a ghost bride and sat still in the yard next to the tombstones until trick-or-treaters showed up and then I moved when they got closer. It was a big hit.

I did the same thing last year...stayed still til a TOT got nearby not dressed as a bride. It was a ton of fun. The highlight probably was when an adult saw me from across the street yelled, "Yo are you real. Look if you're real and you touch me I might hit you."

 

[Goog]

I did the same thing last year...stayed still til a TOT got nearby not dressed as a bride. It was a ton of fun. The highlight probably was when an adult saw me from across the street yelled, "Yo are you real. Look if you're real and you touch me I might hit you."

My highlight was when one of the parents screamed and ran. The kids said it was the best thing to ever happen on Halloween.