Creating a Door County Costume

“You are a product of your environment,” said W. Clemet Stone. Why not take that literally this Halloween with a Door County inspired guise? Forget the overdone witches, bumble bees, and Barack Obama costumes – show some love to the place you call home.

Here are three Door County themed costumes you can don proudly this Halloween:

• Lighthouse

Shine a light on your creativity with this costume of grandeur. Representing these historical and practical structures that line the Lake Michigan shoreline will have fellow trick-o-treaters smiling and nodding approvingly. ‘Well done,’ they’ll be thinking.

All you need is a tubular piece of white cardboard or poster board. Create the outline of bricks and a door using a thick black marker. Key component of this costume: a headlamp. Set the light on blinking mode or twirl in circles to get that classic lighthouse look. Don’t be surprised when you hear, “Whoa, it’s like a real lighthouse!”

• Door County Tourist

Grab any and all of your ‘Door County’ apparel and go to town – baseball caps, sweatshirts, and fanny packs – the brighter the better. Cardigans, sweaters, sweatshirts, or turtlenecks adorned with felt lighthouses or cherries are also highly recommended.

Essential accessories: Door County Visitor Guide, eight or nine brochures, and a string of questions including, “If we take the ferry to Washington Island, can we drive back?” and “What beach is closest to the water?”

• Cherry

Represent a Door County staple by simply stuffing pillows beneath a red sweatshirt, squeezing into some green tights or leggings, and finding a clever way to create a stem atop your head such as putting your long hair in a high ponytail. Rogue your cheeks and bounce happily up and down – you’re ripe and the shakers have arrived!

A common complement in this getup: “You look good enough to eat!”

Our ideas only skim the surface of Door County inspired costume possibilities. How about dressing as a goat, a shipwreck, a plein air painter, Emma Toft, a sailboat, the Rhythm Chicken, Freddie Kodanko, or a cheese curd?

Looking for a place to party and show off your costume this Halloween? Check our events calendar for a listing of Halloween parties, trick-o-treating opportunities, and costume contests.