9 Halloween costumes that only make sense in Michigan
Get started on the perfect Michigan-inspired Halloween costume with our roundup of strange, silly, and downright fun ideas.
Halloween is right around the corner, much to the delight of those of us who spend most of the year planning our next great costume. But don’t worry if you’ve yet to decide on the perfect getup for this year—there’s still plenty of time to create something unique.
If you’re a tried and true Michigander looking to represent the Mitten this October, we’ve got a list of Halloween costume ideas that will only make sense to folks from the Great Lakes State. Whether you’re paying homage to a beloved sports team or honoring a delicious Michigan dish, these costumes will set you apart (and, hopefully, get a good laugh out of your friends).
1. I-696 (or another expressway of your choice)
Unfortunately, a hallmark of life in Michigan is traveling along those “damn roads,” some of which are plagued by potholes and constant construction. As frustrating as expressway travel can be (even when it’s being actively improved), we have to laugh to remain sane.
For Halloween, why not take inspiration from highways? Dress in all grey or black, add a few yellow traffic lines, then stick on some construction sign or pothole decals to round it all out. Of course, you’ll also want to add a green name tag denoting exactly which expressway you’re dressed as. May we recommend 696?
2. Upside-down Amon-Ra St. Brown
If there’s one thing Michiganders can agree on, it’s that the Detroit Lions have (finally!) given us a string of fantastic football seasons for the past few years. Along with the Lions’ success has come plenty of fun, meme-worthy moments—including Amon-Ra St. Brown’s now-iconic headstand touchdown celebration during a matchup with the Green Bay Packers last year.
Want to honor St. Brown during Halloween? Hear us out: Create a full-length outfit with an upside-down likeness of St. Brown ironed on or simply wear your #14 jersey and randomly break into headstand formation every few minutes throughout the night. It might take a bit of creativity, but we can’t think of a more inventive way to honor the Lions this fall.
3. Sandy, the Meijer horse
Yes, we know Meijer exists in other states, but we Michiganders sure do love our favorite grocery store. More than the store itself, we love Sandy: the mechanical horse usually found near the front entrance of every Meijer.
In fact, most of us have fond childhood memories of hopping on Sandy to enjoy a “ride” for just a penny. This Halloween, dress up an ordinary horse costume by adding green pants (to create Sandy’s base) and a coin slot to bring it all together.
4. A Petoskey stone
The Petoskey stone is a beautiful and timeless symbol of Michigan and our wonderful Great Lakes. Many of us have combed the beaches of Lake Michigan to find Petoskey stone treasures of our very own. This Halloween, turn a natural wonder into a one-of-a-kind costume by painting or decorating a grey shirt to resemble a petoskey stone. Want to take it up a notch? Snag a petoskey stone necklace or earrings to bring the outfit full circle.
5. A can of Faygo
Kick off the Halloween season with POP of fun (get it?) when you make Faygo your costume. For many Michiganders, the flavor of Faygo is associated with fond childhood memories and summertime adventure. The sweet and versatile beverage comes in flavors ranging from cream soda to fruit punch to the company’s iconic “red pop.”
Pick your favorite bottle and use it as the inspiration for your Halloween costume—we’re thinking a pop logo on your shirt, a “bottlecap” hat, and a healthy dose of humor. And, of course, be sure to tell off anyone who tries to call it “soda” at your Halloween party.
6. The Michigan Dogman
Here’s a Michigan urban legend that rarely gets the attention it deserves. The Michigan Dogman is a mythical creature—half-dog and half-man—who walks upright. He’s said to be human on the bottom with the head of a dog (or wolf) and stands some seven feet tall. Those who report sighting the Dogman claim his howl sounds like a human scream, while his eyes are blue or amber.
For Halloween, the Dogman would be a pretty easy costume to pull off. A dog or wolf mask combined with the occasional creepy howl/scream should do the trick. If you want to take your costume to the next level, be sure to lurk behind party guests just a bit too closely and growl in their ears.
7. Dueling Coney Island restaurants
Picture this: You’re wearing an oversized t-shirt split into two distinct designs. One side features a red background with blue and white accents, while the other is grey with a red-orange sign. Oh, and you’ve got a hat embroidered with a coney dog decal.
Starting to sound familiar? Yep, that’s right: We’re imagining a costume depicting American and Lafayette Coney Islands, which stand side by side in Detroit. If you’re feeling especially absurd, fill your trick-or-treat bucket with chili (or just ask folks to vote for their favorite of the two restaurants.
8. A “troll” under the Mackinac Bridge
While most of us know that Yoopers are people who live north of the Mackinac Bridge, the “troll” nickname for folks living south of (or “under”) the bridge is a bit less prevalent. But if you’re looking for a Michigan-themed Halloween costume that plays on a true Great Lakes State inside joke, a Mackinac Bridge troll fits the bill.
The setup shouldn’t be too hard: Dress like a typical troll from fairy tales and science fiction, but add a few nods to the Mackinac Bridge, the Straits of Mackinac, or even Mackinaw City to your costume for a funny twist. Even a picture of the bridge adhered to a t-shirt would drive the absurd (but decidedly amusing) point home.
9. A perfect euchre hand
If there’s one thing we Michiganders love, it’s sitting down for a rousing game of euchre. This costume idea is perfect for those who haven’t had time to plan anything elaborate—or just those who are obsessed with euchre.
For a quick last-minute getup, grab a deck of cards and create your ideal euchre hand. Next, pin the cards to a plain white t-shirt and voila! You’ve got a costume. If you want to take your costume to the next level, get crafty and create a larger wearable hand of cards using cardboard, construction paper, or another durable material.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.
