As August comes to a close, so do the discussions about my children’s Hallowe’en costumes. The ideas start to brew about the same time days become just that little bit shorter. Advertisements for costumes have begun to pop up online, and the store shelves are making room for their Fall home decor. It won’t be long before the Hallowe’en books at the library I work at start to see more circulation.
All four of my children love the spooky season. By the end of the summer, they usually have their Hallowe’en costume narrowed down, if not solidified. I try to hold off on making any purchases until at least the end of September, in case they change their minds three times by October 31st. It happens. So, what will be the ’13’ most popular costumes amongst kids in 2025? From TikTok hot trends, to traditional scary monsters, from top box office movie characters to beloved cartoon and storybook friends, here are my children’s predictions for the sought-after Hallowe’en costumes this year.
Wednesday Addams
“They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky, they’re altogether ooky, The Addams Family”. Part traditional, part rebirthed due to the popularity of the Netflix series Wednesday, Wednesday Addams is quintessential doom and gloom. Jenna Ortego, who currently plays Wednesday, has redefined this classic character for today’s generation of kids. The show is scary without being terrifying, much like Harry Potter at Hogwarts, with a hand instead of an owl as the sidekick.
I secretly hope one of my kids chooses to be Wednesday this year. Her simple centre part and braids, pale complexion, and all-black ensemble would be simple to pull together. Add a fake plastic hand from the dollar store to their shoulder, and ‘Fester’s your Uncle. ‘ Truth be told, the entire Addams family could make a trending group Hallowe’en costume. All my kids love getting spooked out by Wednesday on Netflix, and that’s why they chose her as one of their top picks for 2025.
The Minions
These yellow goofballs have been around for years, but my kids all say they will be trick-or-treating again this October. The Despicable Me franchise began in 2010, if you can believe it. My firstborn was only three, and she did a Minions dance routine to the Bruno Mars song with her dance company. The costumes were adorable with shiny blue skirt overalls, bright yellow bodysuit, and goggles pinned to her hair proving Minions appeal to boys and girls.
The seven movies featuring the Minions have grossed over $5 billion. They are one of the most successful movie franchises; it is no wonder they continue to be popular every Hallowe’en. I could see the Minions making a great group costume as well, with Gru, Bob, Steve, and the whole despicable crew. This is one of those costumes you could make yourself with some overalls, a yellow long-sleeve tee, and glasses. Add the little lab symbol to their chest, and off they go. I’ll be curious to see if my kids are correct on this top pick.
Bingo and Bluey
For the toddlers and preschoolers, my kids are betting on the sister shepherds from Bluey to be popular this Hallowe’en. Bluey is the hottest kids’ show out there, possibly even more adored by parents. My youngest two, 9 and 10, still love Bluey; I’m pretty sure I have seen every episode too! It is funny, charming, and usually offers a sweet message to families. If you haven’t hopped on the Bluey train, get yourself to the station.
I’m going to agree with my kiddos that lots of little Blueys and Bingos will be visiting my door this Hallowe’en. Not only will the costumes be readily available, but they will also be these fuzzy animal costumes that parents love to dress little ones in for warmth. Last year, I dressed as Bluey at the library to impress the children and entertain my co-workers. No, I didn’t wear a blue footed onesie, but I did find an adult Bluey sweatshirt and a blue dog ear headband.
Chicken Jockey
If your kids watched A Minecraft Movie this Spring, then you know what I’m talking about when I say ‘chicken jockey’. The viral scene when the Minecraft baby zombie rode on the Minecraft Chicken like a horse. The kids went crazy for this scene (some a little too crazy). If you have a Minecraft fan in the house, you’re likely familiar with them yelling ‘chicken jockey’ for no apparent reason since the movie’s release.
It’s no surprise that my 9-year-old son suggested that Chicken Jockey would be a hot Halloween costume for 2025. He is the target age for the Minecraft empire. I had to ask him to remind me who the chicken jockey even was…Jack Black? A Minecraft Villager? ‘No, Mom, it was a baby zombie. ‘ I have not seen a Chicken Jockey costume yet this year, but the marketing Gods, I have no doubt, have been all over it since the first kid yelled ‘chicken jockeyyyyyyy’ and threw his popcorn.
Neon Construction Worker
I am unsure where this trend originated, but I assume TikTok is the likely culprit. My tween dressed as a neon construction worker last year, and she feels confident it will be popular again this Hallowe’en. It’s pretty simple and genius, this costume. Bright shades, maybe the aviator style, a construction hat, a neon construction vest or straps, and that’s about it! Some idea websites add neon bracelets, cargo pants, and work boots. Girls can accessorize as much or as little as they want to with this costume.
I think kids like this costume idea cause it can be minimalist. As they get older, tweens may not want to go over the top with their costumes. This trend allows them to dress up but keep their own personal style. When researching ideas for this costume, I did notice it was often referred to as a ‘preppy’ neon construction worker. That would make sense why my daughter was drawn to this costume trend, and why your tween may be sporting it this Halloween.
Roblox Avatars
From ‘Grow a Garden’ to ‘Dress to Impress’ and ’99 Nights in the Forest’, Roblox games are incredibly popular in my house (and in most 8 to 13-year-olds’ houses). My three youngest kids probably spend too much time playing Roblox. But on the upside of the screen time, they are playing together, which I adore. Just as I grew up playing Super Mario Brothers with my siblings and have fond memories of that time, my children have bonded over gaming.
One of the aspects they love about Roblox is creating their avatars, adding their own personalities to their online character. It is in the avatars that my kids see the potential for fun DIY Halloween costumes. Roblox offers a wide range of accessories and clothing for kids’ avatars, and these can translate into the kids’ actual costuming. If you aren’t familiar with Roblox, the basic character (or avatar) is a yellow boxy figure with a smiley face and blue T-shirts with the letter ‘R’ on the chest. If you see this marshmallow-shaped mask walking around on October 31st, you will have seen the Roblox mascot.
Traditional Ghosts And Ghouls
Of course, we would be remiss not to include our traditional Hallowe’en spooks in our list of costumes my kids think will be popular in 2025. Witches, ghosts, vampires, and zombies are always on the prowl on Hallowe’en, and we don’t see this trend ever ending for trick-or-treaters. We are even going to add creepy clown to this category, and those may be the scariest of all
In my house, we have done all the traditional Halloween costumes over the years. Sometimes, a classic ghost with a bed sheet or a witch with a green nose and black hat trump any timely trend. My son wants to be something scary this year, and it has to involve fake blood. He has arrived at the age of the spookier the better. We are still fleshing out ideas, but a zombie scientist or a zombie soccer player has been tossed around.
Lilo And Stitch
With the success of the live-action movie and the marketing surrounding the characters, Lilo and Stitch are among the current Disney fan favorites. We saw the movie this past spring, and all the kids loved it. My middle daughter went through a very intense Stitch phase, and we have the tees and plushies to prove it. Our prediction for Hallowe’en is that Lilo and Stitch will be making a dynamite duo costume. Besties, buddies, and couples will have plenty of options to dress as Experiment 626 and Luau Girl.
My entire family is big Disney fans, and over the years we have dressed up as The Incredibles, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Gus Gus, and Alice in Wonderland characters for Hallowe’en. While I doubt that any of the children will be dressing as a Disney icon this year, we think Lilo and Stitch (and possibly Angel) will be popular among the younger kids. I am hoping my husband lets me get a Stitch onsie for our dog.
Inflatable Costumes
The popularity of inflatable costumes has soared in the last five years. We have seen more giant aliens, axolotls, and dinosaur-riding cowboys lining (and overtaking) the sidewalks each Halloween. My kids tried out an Easter Bunny inflatable this past spring, and it was quite entertaining. There is something so funny about watching the waddle of a giant rabbit across the front lawn.
With the rising popularity of inflatable costumes, there are many options to choose from, which is why my kids are choosing them as one of the most popular in 2025. As we start researching their own costumes, we have seen Care Bears, wiener dogs, chickens, Among Us characters, unicorns, and even pickles of the air-filled variety – to name just a few. We recently adopted a Dachshund, so I am really pulling for someone to choose the giant wiener dog this Halloween.
The Lorax
This one surprised me when two of the kids suggested it as one of the top Halloween costumes for 2025, but they may be on to something. They have rediscovered The Lorax (since the 2012 movie) thanks to a trend on YouTube Shorts. A set of viral videos shows a young man dressed up as a tiny orange Lorax as he enters Home Depot singing, “Let it grow, let it grow”. He waddles around the store to the lumber section and then asks several employees if they had chopped down these trees. It is quite a brilliant skit, actually. For a quick laugh, do a search.
Dr. Seuss characters are another past Hallowe’en favorite in our house. We have dressed the kids up as Thing 1 and Thing 2, and Cindy Lou Who when they were younger. The Lorax is a fun costume that could be a super cute DIY, with an orange sweat suit and a big yellow moustache. Add some handmade striped Truffula to carry, and this would be a winning Hallowe’en costume for kids in 2025.
Superman
Superheroes are always popular at Hallowe’en. For 2025, we anticipate an uptick in Superman sales with the release of the blockbuster movie this summer. Whether they will trick or treat as Clark Kent or the blue and red caped hero could be up for debate. My guess is that the toddlers will be dressed as the dapper Kent by their mothers, and the school-aged kids will vie for the cool spandex.
Superman was my favorite superhero growing up and I watched the trilogy with Christopher Reeve repeatedly. I haven’t seen the latest movie, but it’s definitely a story I want to share with my children. We do not doubt that there will be many Spidermans, Hulks, Flashes, and Wonder Women, but my kids are projecting that Superman will be the hottest superhero trend for Halloween 2025.
Glinda And Elphaba From Wicked
The movie of 2024/2025 had to be Wicked. With the release of part two approaching in November, the franchise’s popularity continues to soar. The marketing of the pink and green duo has spread from skincare to Lego to specialty coffees, clothing, and of course, costuming. My children definitely predict that Glinda and Elphaba will be in full force on Halloween night. Another perfect bestie costume duo!
I think my third daughter belted out the lyrics to “Defying Gravity” for a full four months after seeing Wicked in the theatre. This story has always been iconic, and the movie did not disappoint. The popularity of team Glinda and team Elphaba memes reached every corner of the internet. I am excited to see little green painted faces and puffy pink dresses knocking on my door this year. Two of my children have dressed as Dorothy with her blue-checked dress and sparkly red shoes in the past, so I don’t doubt that Glinda and Elphaba will be top costumes well past 2025.
Disney’s Zombies
This summer, Disney released the fourth movie in the Zombies series on Disney+. If you are not familiar, the original Zombies was released in 2018 and is a musical adventure movie that follows high schoolers Zed, the Zombie, and Addison, the cheerleader. Zombies two and three were released in 2020 and 2022, respectively, and were the soundtrack to my four kids’ COVID years. Zombies four this summer again renewed many children’s love affair with Zed and Addison, and introduced many new characters to dance and sing alongside.
The Zombies franchise is expected to be another huge Halloween costume contender for 2025. There are cheerleaders, zombies, werewolves, vampires, aliens, and day-walkers (day what? Yes, I asked the same question… it’s a vampire that walks during the day) to choose from. My third daughter dressed as Addison the cheerleader a couple of years ago. It was a pre-made costume that we were able to pick up from one of the big-box Halloween stores. If your children have been singing and dancing to Zombies this summer, you will have no problem finding a costume for them this year.
The Halloween chatter has just begun amongst my family. The days have just started to cool down, and the sunsets are coming earlier. For my children, school starts in just a few days, and they are definitely not ready to say goodbye to summer. To offset the anxiety about a new school year, I have found that talking about what we have to look forward to this Fall helps. All four of my children love Halloween, so planning for their costumes and how we will decorate this year always lifts their spirits.
It will be interesting to see how many of the “lucky 13” costumes listed above we will see trick-or-treating this Halloween. My kids feel very confident in their predictions. I wouldn’t be surprised if even a couple from this list appear at my own house on Halloween night. I’m betting on The Lorax and a Zombie. Happy spooky season!
