Group Halloween Costume Theme Ideas to Win Costume Contests

Group Halloween costume ideas need to be fun and creative to win contests. If you need some great ideas to get your small or large grouped dressed to win a Halloween costume contest, then check out some of these combinations.

Costume Theme 1: Cat-in-the-Hat, Thing 1, Thing 2
Group Size: 3, although you extend it to a larger group by adding the fish and the kids

How to Make Thing 1 and Thing 2:
1. Buy 2 red sweatshirts and 2 red sweatpants.

2. Cut 2 large circles out of white fabric. Use fabric paints to write 'Thing 1' on the first circle and 'Thing 2' on the second circle.

3. Sew or glue the circles to the sweatshirts. Purchase blue hair wigs or use temporary Halloween blue hair dye.

How to Make the Cat-in-the-Hat:
Since this costume is more complicated, you may want to consider purchasing one online.

To make the costume, purchase a black sweatshirt and black sweatpants. Cut out a large tummy-shaped oval out of white fabric. Sew or glue it to the sweatshirt front. Make a large bow tie out of wide red ribbon and place around tie around the neck. Purchase a tall striped hat to complete the outfit.

Costume Theme 2: Caterpillar
Group Size: 5+

How to Make the Caterpillar sections:
You'll need 1 person to be the caterpillar head and the remaining group members can be different colored sections of the body.

1. Dress in different colors of solid shirts and all members should wear black pants. For example, you can have purple, blue, green, and yellow sections of the caterpillar body.

2. Purchase fabric in solid colors to match the shirts.

3. Cut out two large circles that will fit the person's torso will extra room for stuffing.

4. Sew the two circles with right sides together. Leave an opening at the top for the head and the bottom for the torso. Turn right side out.

5. Place on the person and add stuffing. We used newspaper or tissue paper to make the caterpillar bodies as plump as desired

6. Repeat this process for each body segment.

7. For the head segment, make a smaller circle to cover the person's head. Leave only an opening at the bottom. Add antennae using black pipe cleaners and black painted Styrofoam balls. Cut an opening in the hat so the person can see out.

Costume Theme 3: Box of Crayons
Group Size: 8+; you can expand this theme to larger groups by adding more crayon colors

How to Make the Crayons:
1. Use cardboard boxes to cut out the crayon pieces. We made square shaped crayons since it was a bit easier.

2. Cut four pieces of cardboard that, when attached together, will fit around a person.

3. Attach the sections together by using hot glue or duck tape.

4. Paint each crayon box a different solid color. Let dry.

5. Write the color brand and color using black paint on all sides of the crayon.

6. Use the same color to make a matching pointed hat out of fabric or felt.

7. To make the hat, cut out a semi-circle from the fabric. The semi-circle should be large enough so that the base fits on the person's hat and extends upwards for about 12 inches.

8. Fold the semi-circle in half with right sides together. Stitch the seam.

9. Turn right side out and hem the bottom edge if desired. You can also write the name of the crayon on the hat or leave it blank.

10. Repeat for each crayon in the group.

Costume Theme 4: Mickey through the years
Group Size: 3+

This creative theme is a bit more involved than the other themes as you may want to purchase pre-made costumes rather than making them. Decide how many people are in your group to come up with enough Mickey Mouse themes. Start with Steamboat Willie and dress that group member in a black and white Mickey costume. Be sure to have one group member dress as the "classic" Mickey Mouse with the red shorts and white gloves. Other Mickey Mouse themes include the wizard Mickey from Fantasia, Adventureland Mickey, Frontierland Mickey, and so on.

Costume Theme 5: Phases of the Moon
Group Size: 3-8, depending on how many people are in your group

This fun group Halloween costume theme can be really creative depending upon how much detail you add to your moon costumes. If you have a large group, then you can make one costume for each phase of the moon: full moon, waxing gibbous, first quarter, waxing crescent, new moon, waning crescent, last quarter, and waning gibbous. If you have fewer than 8 members in your group, then just select your favorite moon phase for your costume.

To make the costumes you'll need a solid black outfit for each person such as a long-sleeved T-shirt and black jeans.

Make the moon phases out of poster board and paint them a luminous white/yellow color. If you're particularly creative and have the time, you can add craters to the moon surfaces.

Be sure to cut 2 moons for each person to attach to both the front and back of the person. We attached our moon pieces using adhesive Velcro. You can buy this type of Velcro by the yard at your local fabric store. You can also write the phase of the moon along one side using a black marker.

For extra creativity points, add Halloween themed elements to your moon. For example, add a black bat silhouette to the full moon so it looks as though it is gliding across the sky.