Halloween 2025

We are a household that observes Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and Valentine’s Day. If you do not, then that’s okay, but I love any opportunity to do activities with my kids that will create core fun memories. I also love a good theme! That being said, starting with this month until the end of February, I tend to be extremely stressed about all of the activities there are to do as a family and at their schools, and traditions I want to uphold with the cost that entails with having such a large family. I like to plan, and often that plan does not happen or has to be tweaked when the time comes to do the activity, but I do like to plan as far ahead as possible, in theory so that things can be budgeted or paid for bit by bit. 

In years past, I have wanted so badly to do a group costume. Devon was never on board, so we didn’t. This year, I got the whole house on board! I will do a list of costume ideas I liked at the end. We debated and voted, and chose Disney Villains as our group theme. I was so excited! I am not a mom who sews. Also, making costumes in my experience often costs just as much or more to do yourself than just buying them. Plus, where would I possibly find the time to make SIX costumes around our schedules? So, I made a list. I scoured the internet for the best costumes I could find at a reasonable price. The only one I would have to get creative with was Ethan, cause apparently, they do not make a baby Hades costume. Here is where things went downhill. 

Ethan’s was only going to cost about fifteen dollars to put together, but Addie’s and Felicity’s each cost about thirty. George’s cost seventy, Aiden’s I found for about forty, and mine was also seventy. That is a total of $255!! For one night for some of us, that is crazy. It did not seem so bad individually for just the kids, but that’s almost two weeks of groceries or an electric bill! I saw a post of a friend who also has five littles basically complaining about the same thing, even the cheapest store bought costumes are twenty dollars a piece and that’s a hundred dollars most of us just don’t have or can’t afford to spend on something that is just for a day, not even able to be reused for years to come because kids grow and character fads fade. We were at a downtown event last week where a vendor was selling older character costumes for only five dollars, but a week before Halloween, we had already figured out an alternative plan. 

I know many parents, even many I know, would just opt out of Halloween altogether, or get creative with making something. Those parents are entitled to that choice, and I am impressed by the ones who have that creativity, but my kids are older and in school. I could opt out for Ethan and maybe even Felicity without them noticing, though I would surely be judged about Felicity not having a costume at school with her classmates. Addison, though, is in school with friends and has had the experience every year since she was a baby. The schools all have dress up days, and my child will not be one of the few, possibly even the only one in her class that does not have a costume, I have seen how devastating that is to a small child. I flat out do not have the time or brain power to create one from nothing, let alone four. Not to mention, at their ages, they tell me what they want to dress up as. Aiden wants something scary, Addison changes her mind over and over to a new character with each thought, Felicity just wants to wear a dress. 

This is where we landed, Addison wants to do a couples costume with a friend, so that friend’s mom offered to buy the costumes, so I just had to order some hair dye. Ethan’s I got on sale and it goes with Addie’s. Aiden wanted to be a scary scarecrow, so I bought his and Felicity is going to complement him as a cute scarecrow using an old costume of Addie’s.

After all the kids’ school activities and parties, we will be going to the local downtown trunk or treat event like always, then we do a dash of trick or treating, maybe a church festival.

This is all for the one day. One of our family traditions is also to go to one of the local farms for their fall activities. We have only missed one year in the eight we have been together and I STILL feel guilty about it. We do corn mazes, hay rides, fall photos, etc. We get a pumpkin for each person in our house to carve. This year, I don’t know that we will be able to. It is sixty dollars to get us all into the place, after the forty minute drive. Odds are the kids will be hungry or thirsty, we already travel with half the house for the littles’ needs, I can’t fit a cooler too. It’s twenty five dollars to get us all a pumpkin to carve.

These are all one day things too, some just a couple hours, but they are memories and pictures I get of their childhood. These little traditions matter to me. Someone told me that maybe I do too much with my kids, and those things aren’t as special, but I disagree. My kids are excited and surprised every time I plan something for us to do as a family. Also, I read a meme once that said, “Their childhood is my motherhood.” That has stuck with me. These traditions and memories I want to be core feelings for them are also for me and I think that is almost as important. I do not prioritize self care like my therapist pushes for, but doing these things with my family brings me joy. It may sure stress me on the day, but it is one of the few things that gives me that elusive sense of accomplishment. Yes, we stay busy. Yes, sometimes activities together stretch our budget thin. I wholeheartedly believe they are worth it, though.

I would love to know what your non-negotiable family traditions are! Please feel free to share in the comments.

Group Costume Ideas We Debated:

Batman Characters

Pokemon Characters

Disney Villains (Winner!)

I looked at so many ideas, these were the ones that made it to the final vote.

Popular Kid Character Costumes This Year:

K Pop Demon Hunters Characters

Bluey

Wicked Characters

Disney’s Zombies Characters