Get Competitive With Your Halloween Costume This Year

Up into my early twenties, I loved putting on costumes. I liked Halloween because there was a sense of magic and excitement to it. Halloween is a holiday that lets us embrace our inner child and unleash our creativity. Especially as I got older, I liked that it gave me a reason to break out and have fun.

The joy of costuming still lives in some, but I have slowly let go of the tradition and I started to wonder why. As I thought about it this year I realized that a big part of the problem lies in the fact that I don't have anywhere to go in costume. I mean it's not worth the effort just for the handful of co-workers and shoppers that I might bump into.

Then it struck me I should join a costume contest! I remember thinking of this when I had a specifically stellar costume one year, but I didn't know where to find one. Silly me, there are tons of contests online. Here is a list of contests you might be interested in:

Maskerix This contest allows you to send a photo of you in your costume and they will take submissions all year.

Costume Works Submit your Halloween costume photo (one or more!) along with a brief description

Coolest Home Made Costumes Allows you to submit photos and videos. This contest is also interested in the process it took to build it.

Spirit Hoods This contest has some great prizes and different categories. You can send them a photo or video.

Whether you're into sewing, makeup artistry, prop-building, or simply have an eye for fashion, a costume contest allows you to display your skills and receive the recognition you deserve.

And don't forget your pets, many of these costumes accept pet costumes as well. You can dress them up as their own thing or have them accent your costume.

Bonus to this idea: if you do get invited to something you have a genius costume all ready to go.