I must begin this piece with a glimmer of hope that this Halloween will be different from the past two years I have spent on this campus. While I understand that my first and second year at Shippensburg University were under the shadow of Covid-19, I still wish that the Halloween spirit was at least somewhat present. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The campus was sorely lacking costumes, and in general, it simply didn’t feel like Halloween came on October 31. Obviously, as a 20-year-old, trick-or-treating is far behind me, but dressing up for Halloween, I feel, is still an essential aspect of the holiday, and it’s the element of the day that makes it so much fun. Now that the pandemic is mostly behind us and the university is more populated than two years ago, now is the time for the hallways of our university to be filled with some unique costumes.

However, I must preface by saying that every year there are bound to be those costumes that everyone is thinking of doing. Now, you could argue that great minds think alike, but seeing 20 or more of the same costume isn’t fun for anyone. So here is a guide to what is likely to be the most overdone costumes for this spooky season.

Kicking things off, I think we all can agree that Netflix certainly will dominate this year, as they have the past few. Last year, the streaming service gave everyone an easy and quick costume after debuting the K-Drama “Squid Game.” Whether it was a player of the titular game or one of the masked soldiers, it was 2021’s most popular choice. This time around, Netflix has had two of the biggest shows in the same year, “Stranger Things 4” and “Dahmer.” While I may be sick to my stomach seeing a hundred Eddie Munsons, I'd take that over anyone thinking it’s okay to dress as Jeffery Dahmer. Please, whoever you are, if you are thinking that dressing up as Jeffrey Dahmer would be funny or cute, stop reading this, step outside and watch the sunset while you think about your life choices.

Some of the other costumes you’re bound to see every year which need to be laid to rest include, but are not limited to, anyone who dresses like “The Purge.” The light up masks aren’t cool, and trust me, if you think you’re the only one to wear one, you’re mistaken. Angels or devils are a tad played out unfortunately, and I strongly feel any man dressed as Hugh Hefner is problematic, and no, you can’t change my mind. Obviously, the biggest don’t of any Halloween is don’t be racist. Another person’s culture is not your Halloween costume, and I promise you, no one finds it funny.

With so much negativity, you’re probably wondering, “what can I dress up as this year?” Well, thankfully Halloween is a holiday that offers infinite potential. It’s all about creativity in the end, but just in case you need some suggestions to get the creative juices flowing, here are a few recent ideas that may be perfect for you and your friends. Starting with the tried-and-true classics: The Sanderson Sisters. “Hocus Pocus 2” may have been mediocre, but the Sanderson Sisters are still iconic and the ultimate trio costume. Even if you have to fight over who gets to be Sarah. You also have characters from hit shows and movies like “House of the Dragons” and “Pearl.” Heck, A24 Movies offer a plethora of great costume ideas.

As Halloween draws near, I’m sure most of you reading already have your costumes selected for whatever festivities you plan on attending. This guide is simply here to give you an idea of what to expect from this year, and to prepare you for the possibility of finding your doppelganger walking around campus. Costumes are a great way to express yourself and show off your personality, even if it’s only for one night out of the year.

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