7 creative West Virginia Halloween costume ideas

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Looking for something a little more creative than a witch or a superhero? Here’s a list of West Virginia-specific costumes that are sure to win at your local costume contest (or at least turn some heads).

All of these costume ideas are at least somewhat humanoid, so they can be pieced together without buying a full costume set at Spirit Halloween. Whether you’re looking to be something spooky or something silly, here are a few great options to confuse your out-of-state friends.

Paranormal

Cryptid culture is booming in West Virginia, so why not lean into it a little further by dressing like one for Halloween? Here are a few options.

Mothman

If you’re looking for a regional costume that most people will still recognize, Mothman is a great option. This cryptid is famous for being spotted in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, right before the deadly Silver Bridge collapse in 1946. Although he is associated with a tragedy, like many West Virginia cryptids and legends, Mothman has become a symbol of West Virginia culture more than an indicator of a tragic event. Mothman is described as a large, black, human-shaped figure with moth-like wings and glowing red eyes. For inspiration, check out some Mothman-inspired art or read the spooky legend of Mothman.

Flatwoods Monster

Also called the Braxton County Monster or Braxxie, the Flatwoods Monster is an alien that appeared to a group of witnesses in 1952, according to legend. If you’re looking for a more feminine cryptid, this is a great option because Braxxie is typically thought of as female, although it can be hard to tell when it comes to aliens. Braxxie is tall with red skin, glowing yellow eyes and a long green cloak with a pointed hood. However, you have some freedom with this one because there are lots of different variations of what the Flatwoods Monster might have looked like.

Veggie Man

If you want a more obscure cryptid, look no further than Vegetable Man. This Marion County cryptid was only seen by a few not-so-credible people, but he has grown in popularity in recent years thanks to events like Veggie Man Day, a newly established day festival in Fairmont celebrating the cryptid. Veggie Man is described as green with three-fingered hands that look like brambles with needle-like tips and suction cups on them–intended for sucking blood of course. Other than these descriptions and an overall plant-like appearance, you can take some creative liberties with your Vegetable Man costume.

Ghost of the Silver Run Tunnel

The ghost of a woman in white is said to haunt the Silver Run Tunnel on the North Bend Rail Trail near Cairo in Ritchie County. According to Legend, she was a bride who fell from a train and died while it was going through the tunnel. Conductors reported seeing her walking through the tunnel during the county’s railroad boom, but when they would stop the trains to avoid hitting her, no one was there. The tunnel, which is more than 1,300 feet long and is pitch black in the middle, still draws plenty of tourists seeking a spooky encounter. This costume is a variation of a ghost bride, but you can have some fun with it with nods to the late 1900s and West Virginia’s railroad industry.

Other

Looking for something West Virginia-related but a little less spooky and a little more silly? Here are a few great options.

Candy Darter

Yes, we said these were all humanoid, but replicating the unique color pattern of the native candy darter fish could be done without doing full-on fish cosplay. Candy darters are found only in the Greenbrier River valley in southern West Virginia and northern Virginia and are currently considered a threatened species, so this costume gives you a great opportunity to educate the public about stream conservation.

Steve Harvey

Want to share your West Virginia heritage and have a healthy obsession with Family Feud? All you need is a suit, a bald cap and a mustache and you can dress as Welch, West Virginia native Steve Harvey. Although Harvey grew up in Cleveland, he was born in West Virginia and is the son of a coal miner. It doesn’t get much more West Virginian than that.

Tudor’s Biscuit World employee

Do we need to explain this one? Tudors is a symbol of West Virginia culture, so this is a great way to get some laughs with very little effort. All you need is a t-shirt, a yellow Tudor’s logo to stick on the chest (this could be made out of cloth or even paper), and a black hat. Extra points if you carry around a tray of biscuits.