Top 10 Halloween Costumes Around Campus

By Rachel Bardon '25

Photo Courtesy of Tandem X Visuals via Unsplash

Halloween is fast approaching, and many are scrambling to find the perfect, unique costume that will blow everyone away. Lucky us, we live in a historically rich area that is full of unique ideas to dress as. From historical ghosts, on campus statues, or just things you see around campus. Each costume is unique in its own way and is super customizable.

1. The Ghost of Tucker Hall

Photo Courtesy of Jin Wen Xie '24

The ghost of Tucker Hall is a story that we have all heard before, though few of us have experienced or seen her. She is said to haunt studiers on the third floor of Tucker Hall, with stories about her ranging from weird and unexpected computer malfunctions to creepy accounts of her asking how people’s studying has been going. This is an easy go-to costume because it can be made as gory or simple as the wearer pleases. Nothing is truly scarier than a ghost that haunts someone trying to study.

2. The Noble William and Mary

Portrait of Queen Mary II

Portrait of King William III

Photo Courtesy of Skip Rowland '83

What better couple/friend costume to wear at William and Mary than that of the royalty the college is named after itself. William and Mary dressed very regal, this costume is a chance to dress to the 9’s (in colonial fashion terms) and have the students bow to your majesty. This costume would no doubt make great photo opportunities around the campus.

3. Grace Sherwood, The Witch of Pungo

Photo Courtesy of VABeach.com

Grace Sherwood is the last known witch to be convicted of witchcraft in Virginia. Her story is popular in Williamsburg because Colonial Williamsburg holds witch trials where the participants hear the trial and decide whether she is guilty or not. This costume is super cool because of its local historical aspects that’ll for sure make people interested.

4. Sexy Colonials

Photo Courtesy of Jin Wen Xie '24

To dress like a normal colonial would be basic, but to make colonial clothes sexy, that’ll get a reaction. Just imagine the bonnet, the corset, and a mini skirt, or a vest, a colonial hat, and ripped skinny jeans. That sounds sexy enough to make even the colonial statues at William and Mary hot and heavy.

5. The W&M Griffin

Photo Courtesy of Jin Wen Xie '24

Whether you dress up as the adorable campus mascot or the regal griffin statue, this costume is going to blow people out of the park. Plus, who wouldn’t want to a mystical creature with wings and be an absolute god of this campus? This costume can be super casual and comfy as well!

6. The Scorched Colonials

Photo Courtesy of Mohamed Nohassi via Unsplash

Williamsburg is known to have burned twice in its history, so why not use that fact to dress like a colonial that burned to death and came back to haunt the area. This costume is surely to get a conversation going and it will no doubt give you an excuse to do some killer makeup. Burned clothing and scorched skin would definitely be a ‘fire’ costume.

7. One of Your Professors

Photo Courtesy of Tra Nguyen via Unsplash

Don’t act like you don’t impersonate your professors daily anyway, so why not dress up and play into their personality on the spookiest night of the year.

8. The Yellow Jackets

Photo Courtesy of Thomas Millot via Unsplash

Those invasive yellow jackets are pretty terrifying, especially if you’re trying to eat outside. Throw on your yellow and black and buzz right up to people this Halloween.

9. The Lemon Lamppost

Photo Courtesy of Jin Wen Xie '24

We all know the stolen lamppost story, so go ahead light up your Halloween gatherings by having a comical costume and if you’re lucky, the guys who took it might recreate their photos of it with you.

10. Greek Life Zombies

Photo Courtesy of Yohann LIBOT via Unsplash

Whether you are in Greek Life or not, dressing up as a sorority sister or a fraternity brother that has risen from the dead. With this costume, you can create an interesting backstory of how you died and how you’ve come back to haunt the sorority/fraternity.

Halloween is the one time of year where anyone can be whoever for one night, so why not be someone or something unique. Each costume can be dressed up or down to your liking. The best part is that all of the costumes have a tie to the area we live in. Have fun this Halloween no matter if you go out or stay in!

Correction: The last name of this article's writer was spelled incorrectly. The spelling mistake has been corrected from Brandon to Bardon.