Americans are returning to Halloween fun this year, with total spending expected to reach a record $10.6 billion, exceeding last year’s record of $10.1 billion.
Usually, it’s easy to write about the most popular Halloween costumes. You read about a dozen lists and get an idea of what’s being purchased. The categories are similar: princess, superhero, vampire, and so on.
However, this year, websites are touting and consumers are interested in dressing up like characters from streaming TV programs and some movies I’ve never heard of.
Here are lists of this year’s favorites from MarketWatch:
Kids costumes
- Paw Patrol (Skye, Marshall, Chase)
- Justice League (Wonder Woman, The Flash, Batman)
- The Wizard of Oz: Dorothy
- Darth Vader
- Harley Quinn
- Kid Jailbird
- Inflatable T-Rex
- Black Panther
- Five Nights at Freddy’s: Foxy
- Sonic the Hedgehog
Adult costumes
- Inflatable T-Rex
- Wonder Woman 1984
- Buddy the Elf
- The Dark Knight: Batman
- The Wizard of Oz: Dorothy
- Captain Marvel
- The Force Awakens: Rey
- Harley Quinn
- Ride a Beer Buddy
- Elvis (Deluxe)
Pet costumes
- Minions: Bob
- Hocus Pocus: Winifred
- Bettlejuice
- Tigger
- Walking Teddy Bear
- Walking Vet Costume
- The Little Mermaid: Ariel
- Ghostbusters: Slimer
- Snow White
- Superman
About 69 percent of consumers plan to celebrate Halloween this year, with 47 percent planning to dress up in a costume, according to a survey conducted for the National Retail Federation. One in five plan to dress up their pet in a costume.
The list I just found from the federation is more traditional:
Happy Halloween. Have a great celebration.
Such a super fun time of year! I’m dressing as the Queen of Hearts. (Does that qualify as a witch?!)
Hi Diane,
Queen of Hearts? It depends. You could be an evil Queen of Hearts or a nice one. I have a friends who loves holidays and she and her friends often dress up as witches. She even had a party and asked everyone to come in a witch costume.
I love dressing up in costume. Trouble is, I don’t know of any costume parties this year!
Hi Laurie,
I haven’t heard of any Halloween parties either, probably due to covid. Health officials are recommending people get the new booster so they’ll be ready for gatherings for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I just hate to see another surge in deaths, but that’s likely seeing what’s happening in Europe now.
I’m surprised to see Dorothy so popular still. But it’s cool.
Yes, Dorthy for kids, and Wonder Woman for adults.