A guide to creating nine scintillating Halloween costume ideas that scream New Hampshire.
Did you know that one-quarter of all candy sold in the United States each year is during Halloween? Besides being a hauntingly fun and sickly sweet occasion for children and adults alike, Halloween holds a special place in history for people in New England.
While the celebration of the holiday was limited in colonial times due to Protestant belief systems in the region, dark accusations of witchcraft ushered in a new thrill of Halloween celebrations in the region, especially in Salem. New Hampshire is also known for its larger-than-life celebrations every year, and was even ranked the most festive Halloween state.
This Halloween, channel your inner child by trying out these nine New Hampshire-inspired costume ideas:
1. Old Man of the Mountain
A landmark and cultural icon for New Hampshire, the Old Man of the Mountain also became the state’s emblem in 1945. It remains a visual icon across many state relics, especially the New Hampshire license plate. After its tragic collapse in 2003, Halloween could be a great way to pay an ode to the great ole’ Man of the Mountain. This is an especially great idea for couples attending parties—one person can dress as an old man, and the other as a mountain.
To dress as a mountain, you can get different fabrics in gray, green, and brown to represent rugged terrain, trees, foliage, and rocks in the mountain. You can also attach cotton for faux snow, or drape a blue fabric to represent a stream of water, or make a belt with leaf cutouts.
For an old man-inspired costume, consider getting a white wig, a walking cane, round glasses, suspenders, and faux eyebrows. Instead of going for a time-consuming DIY project, you can just buy a complete old man costume set online or at a store.
2. Segway
Segway inventor Dean Kamen’s biomedical research company DEKA is based in Manchester, and the Segway itself was invented by another one of his companies in Bedford. With the distinct New Hampshire connections that the world-renowned two-wheeled transporter has, a Segway Halloween costume is definitely in order!
Interestingly, Kamen has been photographed wearing denim on denim (and blue shirts) a lot, so if you’re looking for a last-minute costume hack, just wear a denim shirt over a denim jeans, and you’re all set to present yourself as Dean Kamen! Perhaps add a helmet for more authenticity?
But if you’re a gifted craftsperson, here’s a more detailed, time-consuming DIY Segway costume project for you.
3. Adam Sandler
Adam Sandler is a true Granite Stater. Born and raised in Manchester, his mother still lives in town, which prompts his frequent visits to the state. Last year, the 59-year-old Hollywood star’s low-key visit to The Puritan restaurant made big waves on social media.
Thanks to this Manchester native’s quirky and easy looks, they make for the most amazing Halloween costumes. Take this Happy Gilmore-inspired costume idea: All you need is a flannel, a yellow/mustard t-shirt, a hockey stick, and a cap. Quick and simple!
4. Voter
This year, consider dressing up as a “First in the Nation” primary voter in honor of the New Hampshire presidential primary, the first primary election held in the United States’ presidential nomination process. Don red, white, and blue, dig up any old campaign buttons you hung onto, and stick on an “I Voted” sticker. To complete the look, add a “First in the Nation” sash.
5. Red Sox
Although not directly Bostonians, we New Hampshire residents don’t shy away from showing up to Red Sox games and showing allegiance to the major leagues. In fact, last year, a Merrimack high schooler debuted with the Red Sox after spending nearly six seasons in the minor leagues!
Why not just show up as a Red Sox enthusiast and overwhelm people with a look inspired by the soul of Fenway Park? You can purchase official Boston Red Sox Gear here.
Otherwise, you could dress as one of the players, or just a baseball (there are plenty of inflatable baseball costumes to choose from!).
6. Lobster
While lobsters are more of a Maine thing, due to its proximity to the ocean, the Seacoast has plenty of shacks where people love to indulge in good-old-fashioned lobsters.
Grab an old red dress or a skirt, and pair it with a red t-shirt. Make a tail out of cardboard like this. Alternatively, you can purchase a readymade lobster costume to save yourself from any DIY hassle. Find more lobster accessories to glam yourself up here.
7. Dunkin’ Donuts
In 1950, a beloved American coffee and doughnut company was founded near New Hampshire in Quincy, Massachusetts. Since then, Dunkin’ has become the mainstay of every Granite Stater’s morning—and a large iced coffee with milk and cream is something none of us can now live without!
Fun fact: Founder William Rosenberg found early success in New Hampshire by selling ice chips at a race track.
To make a Dunkin’ costume, you can cut a donut out of cardboard, then paint it and add sprinkles on it. Make sure you can easily fit through the costume. You can also make a Munchkin-inspired costume! Put on a white shirt and pants or a dress, grab a cardboard box and some styrofoam balls, and paint away! Here’s a full costume guide.
8. Moose
The largest land mammal in New Hampshire, the moose is a rarely spotted sight in the state. Moose are mostly found to the North of the White Mountains, and prime viewing times are early morning and early evenings, especially during spring, summer, and fall.
Find the perfect costume fit and antlers here, and dress up as a moose this Halloween! If you want to do DIY antlers, all you need is aluminium foil, a wire hanger, masking tape, hot glue, and acrylic paint. Check out a guide here.
9. Astronaut
Who hasn’t heard of Christa McAuliffe, the beloved woman from Concord who became the first teacher to go into space? And then there is Alan Shepard, of East Derry, who became the second person and the first American to travel into space.
Wanna put in the effort to put together an astronaut costume yourself? Here’s how to go about it.
Discover astronaut costumes in various sizes and price ranges here. From Aeromax suits and inflatable costumes to orange jumpsuits, become a star with your astronaut dress up this Halloween. Check out a list of options here.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Related: Meet the families making their Concord neighborhood the ultimate Halloween destination
