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10 Richmond-themed Halloween costumes

From local legends to timely news, here’s how to embrace the River City and impress your friends in your Halloween look.

A triptych of Lucy Dacus, Ripple the Otter, and Nutzy.

Look to River City legends for this year’s Halloween costume.

Photos by David Lee, RICtoday, Waz8

Table of Contents

Halloween is fast approaching. Here are ten fa-boo-lous ideas for how to win the costume contest and embrace your River City pride with a Richmond-inspired ‘fit.

Nutzy

Flying Squirrels merch + squirrel accessories + a red cape = a Halloween winner. Bonus: Adding a Nutasha (pink bow and cape) could make for a FUNN pairs costume.

Pulse “Bus Only” Lane

Trust us, this requires minimal arts and crafts. Wear all red and add white “bus only” markings with fabric paint. Bonus: A toy bus is the perfect accessory.

Ripple the Otter

Dress up as the Richmond Public Library mascot by picking up a plain red t-shirt and adding the RPL logo to the front by printing it out and attaching it (beginner) or using fabric paint (expert). Sport an otter mask or splurge on a fuzzy onesie. From there, all you need is your favorite book as a prop.

The Ghost of the Broad Street Arby’s Hat

This Richmond spin on a classic costume requires a bed sheet and a ten-gallon hat. Make yourself a Charlie Brown-esque ghost costume, then throw your tallest hat on top in honor of the iconic Arby’s sign, gone but not forgotten.

MF BROOM

The city’s favorite bike lane sweeper can be your costume with just a gladiator mask and broom prop. The name was chosen by the people, so its bound to be popular at parties.

The James River

It’s easy to rep Richmond’s iconic waterway — just wear all blue and a name tag that reads (you guessed it) “James.” Bonus points for carrying a bag of Swedish Fish.

Lucy Dacus

If you’ve got a nine to five, maybe you haven’t had time to think of a costume yet. Assemble an indie-rocker-on-the-rise look with items you might already have in your closet. A denim button down and red lip is a good riff on her Spotify headshot. Pro tip: Add a guitar if you’ve got one.

One-Way Street

Ready to stress out your friends this Halloween? All you need is a piece of poster board and a black marker. Draw up your version of the traffic sign and hit the road. Looking for a couples costume? Have a partner dress as a vehicle going the wrong way.

Sailor Sandwich

Celebrate Richmond’s culinary history with a punny take on this local deli staple. Sailor accessories and a traditional sandwich ensemble should get the job done. At-home crafters could also try a DIY.

Atlantic Sturgeon

Pick up a fish costume online, then fashion yourself a beak-like snout out of paper mache or a party hat. These prehistoric fish can grow to be 14 feet long, so if you’ve got the skills, stilts could really elevate your costume.

Do you have more ideas for locally themed costumes? Share them with us below, and if you decide to use any of our ideas, we want to see the results. Be sure to tag us on Instagram so we can see your handiwork.

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