Halloween costume ideas that are uniquely Arizonan

Halloween is just around the corner, so we’ve put together some costume ideas that represent your home-state love.

Spooky season is here! If you haven’t already enjoyed the scent of apple cinnamon everything, the taste of too much pumpkin spice, and the feel of the breeze developing the crisp undertones of cool, then I repeat: spooky season is here!

Halloween is just around the corner, and if you are like the rest of us, that means it is time to scramble to create the PERFECT costume quickly. If you don’t know what or who to dress up as, don’t worry; we’ve got your back! Here is a list of Arizona characters that you can dress up as in a pinch—likely with items in your closet or from the thrift—and still wow the crowds.

Historical figure costume ideas

Arizona has its fair share of historical figures—it’s the Wild West, after all. With Astrid from “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice” dressing up as an obscure call to Marie Curie, it may actually be kinda cool to dress up as a historical hero.

Cesar Chavez
Cesar Chavez spent his life fighting for equal pay and fair labor for migrant farm workers. He also happened to be born right in Yuma, Arizona. Chavez is literally a hero to thousands, and his work is part of fair labor culture as we know and demand it be today. Dressing up like him might be a little tricky, as he often donned a clean-parted hairdo with a white button-up. His union has an iconic emblem of the Aztec eagle, though, so incorporating that could land a readable—and heroic—costume.

Doc Holliday
Though Georgia-born, the famous OK Corral shootout would not have transpired without the one and only Doc Holliday. This historical figure has an iconic thick black mustache and the traditional cowboy-glam garb (vest, button-up, black hat). Carry around a cap gun, and you’ll be a recognizable Wild West sidekick.

Wyatt Earp
If you have a bromance going on and want to dress up with your friend, grab the same thick black mustache of Doc Holliday, a black hat, and a dark brown collared coat and go as the lawman known as Wyatt Earp. You could also carry around a pen, seeing as how he signed many business licenses, being a lawman and all.

Photo courtesy of rmkoske/CC BY-SA 2.0.

Musician costume ideas

When the weather hits those triple digits in the summer, there isn’t much to do but stay indoors. For these hometown heroes, they chose to perfect their music skills on those long, hot summer days (or maybe nights).

Chester Bennington
The late Chester Bennington’s voice and lyrics are iconic and have spoken for an entire generation. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, he represents the talent and depth that come from Arizona. Grab your tattoo pens and draw his recognizable forearm flames, put on a black short-sleeve button-up, and hum your favorite tunes. You could also pay homage to this hero by dressing up as Abraham Lincoln and hanging out in a park.

Alice Cooper
He may have been born in Michigan, but Alice Cooper started on his melodic path when he moved to Phoenix with his parents at the age of 12. To win a high school talent show, Cooper started a band, and the rest is history from there. If this is a Halloween costume you’re interested in, grab a tall top hat and matching jacket, and then purchase stock in black eyeliner. To pull off Cooper’s look, you will need to basically black out a circle around your eyes and create black points from just above the eyebrow, cascading down to the bottom of the nose. Not sure if this was intentional to begin with or the result of too much Phoenix heat creating the sweat drip (he probably didn’t have the setting spray that we have today).

Stevie Nicks
Bust out black velvet and your best flowy shawl to bring out the iconic Stevie look. Iconic for her white-witchery, Stevie Nicks has inspired many to embrace the inner goddess and dress with mystique. While Fleetwood Mac may now play on the oldies station and call to generations past, her style and place in American pop culture is iconic … and she was born right here in Phoenix! It turns out she may know a thing or two about thunder and rain from the monsoons she witnessed growing up. So, if you want to dress like a witchy Arizona legend, gear up your leather and lace and begin twirling around in that flowy shawl.

Photo courtesy of Ralph Arvesen/CC BY 2.0.

Fictional character costume ideas

Arizona makes a good setting for pretty much any genre of story. Here are a whole slough of fictional characters repping AZ.

Rambo
Sylvester Stalone as a Vietnam vet killer? I have found nary a soul who doesn’t enjoy this thrilling action movie! Rambo’s character, with all his ruggedness and tolerance of the high heat of New Guinea, is from Bowie, Arizona. Represent this baddie with a headband, black pants/boots, and a bandolier. Fortunately, we’re in Arizona, so a bandolier is both accessible and legal to wear around.

Photo courtesy of The Pop Culture Geek Network/CC BY-NC 2.0.

Marion Crane
Alfred Hitchcock’s notable film “Psycho” follows a Phoenix real estate secretary who steals cash from her boss and goes on the run. Karma gets her, though, when she ends up at Norman Bates’ hotel. With a shower cap and a well-tied shower curtain (or sheets of plastic for a lighter yet authentic look), you could go as the iconic shower kill scene of Marion Crane. Or, instead, you could don that classy 50’s fashion.

Bella SwanYou might be wondering why this fictional character has a spot on the list when Twilight is set in Forks. If you recall, Bella Swan moves to her Dad’s house in Forks, Washington, from none other than Phoenix. Sunny to swampy? No wonder she needed to be undead! With some stage makeup to look pale and a wig to replicate Kristen Stewart’s wild mane, you could go as Bella Swan. You could also up the gore factor and dress as vampire Bella. Bonus if you have a guy that wants to wear glitter on his face and rep Team Edward.

Photo courtesy of iMagz/CC BY-NC-ND 3.0.

Mainframe (G.I. Joe)
The iconic action figure we know as G.I. Joe is an American Hero toy born in Phoenix, Arizona. Well, the character is from Phoenix, the toy itself was conceptualized on the East Coast. If you want to go as this classic toy, wear your best Army fatigues and move as though you are made of plastic!

James of Oddballs
This one is for the kiddos out there. Although the series ended last year, James from Oddballs is from the fictional town of Dirt, Arizona, and would be incredibly fun to dress up as. Grab a white bodysuit and white face paint, and find a way to enlarge a white beanie. Don’t be surprised if you get confused for a Q tip or cotton ball, though. 

Stargirl
Have you heard the term “manic pixie dream girl” coined by movie critic Nathan Rabin? Stargirl is a book written by Jerry Spinelli about a misfit, dances-to-her-own-tune girl who moves to the make-believe town of Mica, Arizona, and causes a wave of chaos, change, and crushes throughout the fictional town’s local high school. A movie was made in recent years with teen icon Grace VanderWaal if you don’t feel up to reading this coming-of-age book (though I highly recommend it and frequently add it to the reading list for my middle schoolers). To dress like Stargirl, summon your inner manic pixie dream girl, dye your hair bright orange, dress in vintage and bright clothes, and feel free to carry a pet rat on your shoulder. The only way to make this costume more iconic is to sing or throw coins on the ground around town (read the book for the reference).

OtherOther fictional characters to consider include Eleanor Shellstrop from “The Good Place,” any character from “A Million Ways to Die in the West,” or Marvel’s “Nova.” If you want to go throwback, consider Alex from “The Secret World of Alex Mack” or even Topanga from “Boy Meets World” (Danielle Fishel, the actress who plays Topanga, is from Phoenix).

Sports star costume ideas 

What would Arizona be without its star athletes? The year-round milder weather makes for more time playing on the field, more time fostering the strength, endurance, and talent that our native athletes all possess.

Phil Mickelson
Golf’s oldest major champion is none other than ASU’s graduate Phil Michelson. Dressing up at this golf star is a good excuse to wear a hat, a shiny shirt, and to walk around with golf clubs—just don’t try to pull off this look at a country club, you’ll simply fit in. 

Auston Matthews
Raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, this Toronto Maple Leaves NHL star shows that you don’t need snow to skate. You can dress as this offensive forward with a Maple Leaves Jersey, or with just a helmet and hockey stick to make the guesswork part of the costume.

Photo courtesy of Rob Masefield (masey.co)/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Brock Purdy
This Queen Creek native gives Arizona’s Californian transplants an excuse to dig out their old Niners jerseys. Though born, bred, and raised in Arizona, Brock plays for another west Coast team as a 49ers quarterback. Use this hero as an excuse to dress up as a football star, or if you need to go simple, wear some burgundy and carry around a football.

Esoteric celeb costume ideas

Not all psychics wear turbans and carry crystal balls. Some run religions and work with the district attorney’s office.

L. Ron Hubbard
Have you heard of Scientology? At the height of his writing career, science fiction writer and Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard lived in Phoenix, Arizona. To dress like him, wear a traditional black suit and hold your face with calm psychosis lurking behind your eyes.

Allison Dubois
Played by Patricia Arquette on the early 2000’s show “Medium,” Alison Dubois is an active psychic medium with a podcast, psychic classes, and a hit TV show. She currently lives in Scottsdale and was raised around the valley. Her look includes red hair with two white-blonde streaks framing her face and fitted business casual clothes. To have more fun with it, you could binge the well-done show and dress up as one the debacles she encounters while she consults for the district attorney’s office. 

Movie star costume ideas

Star Quality is not lost in the valley of the sun.

Emma Stone
Spiderman. Superbad. Crazy, Stupid Love. The Help. Easy A. Zombieland. While all of these are movies worth watching, they also all include Scottsdale-born actress Emma Stone as a leading lady. Her sweetheart persona has been dazzling audiences for decades and that means there are many characters to dress up as if you wish to rep this Arizonan.

Steven Spielberg
With a suit and simple round, black, wire-framed glasses, you could go as a look-alike for one of the most renowned directors of all time, Steven Spielberg. It is nearly impossible to live in the 21st century without having indulged in at least 1, 2, or 20 of his captivating films. He is Oscar-winning and screen-inspiring. I guess fantasy is easy to tap into when you’re raised in such a bustling place as Phoenix. 

Photo courtesy of Martin Kraft/CC BY-SA 4.0.

Whether you choose a hero from history, a musician, athlete, fictional character, or occult figure, make this Halloween one full of home-state pride. Arizona has fostered sooo much talent—both real and fictional—and this list of hometown heroes proves just that! Happy spooky season. 

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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