Halloween is nearly here.
We all know how exciting this season can be for kids — and the young at heart — who are eager to debut a clever, well-made costume.
And isn’t Halloween even better when you can earn money from it?
Look for costume contests in your neighborhood and at events you’ll attend this season. The right mix of hot glue, felt and sparkles might net you some cash — and bragging rights for the next year.
Even better, there are lots of online costume contests that hand out cash prizes, too.
Below, you’ll find a roundup of seven free contests you can enter online — no leaving the house required!
First up, a few pointers for pulling off a budget-friendly costume.
Tips for Budget-Friendly DIY Costumes
Maria To-Saturnio and her family won second place and a $50 award for “Best Family Costume” in last year’s online contest hosted by Costume Works.
To-Saturnio made these game-inspired outfits for herself, her spouse and their (now) 6-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter.
The best part? She spent just $3.23 on supplies to build these charming looks.
To-Saturnio is a keen “maker and crafter” and admits to being a “fabric stasher,” so she already had basic supplies and the know-how to begin. Still, she says anyone can assemble simple costumes that look fantastic.
Felt and hot glue are her go-to materials for Halloween costumes.
Using a hot glue gun is quicker than sewing, and it’s something most people can manage.
Also, To-Saturnio notes, Halloween outfits typically won’t see heavy wear or need frequent laundering, so they don’t have to be as robust as everyday clothing.
She does concede, however, “As my children get older and more active, I need to reconsider the toughness of costumes.”
To keep the hobby — and her small enterprise — affordable, she hunts for sales and saves leftover scraps from previous projects.
On the day we talked in early October, she was headed to Jo-Ann Fabric, where she knew felt would be cheaper than at some boutique craft shops.
She also suggested that fabric stores often run promotions before Halloween — so watch for seasonal deals and unusual materials this time of year.
Getting the kids involved helps, too.
“My son enjoys crafting things out of recyclables,” To-Saturnio says, so helping him build a cardboard-based costume can be a fun afternoon project.
But plan ahead.
Even though DIY saves money, a quality costume often takes considerable time. To-Saturnio spends about six weeks before Halloween researching, planning and constructing costumes for her family.
She begins browsing inspiration sites like Pinterest in late September, gathers supplies by early October, and devotes roughly two weeks to making costumes while the kids are at school or napping.
She might spend two to three hours on a simple outfit, and as much as 10 to 15 hours on more elaborate designs.
If you enjoy the process, though, it’s well worth the effort.
“I never realized how long they took because we have so much fun doing it,” she says.
Want to give it a shot?
Here are seven online costume contests you can enter this year. Each is free to enter — simply upload a photo online.
1. Costume Works
The contest that attracted To-Saturnio and her family in 2015 is happening again! Submit entries in one or more of eight categories in the Costume Works Halloween Costume Contest for a chance to win up to $300.
Categories
Submit store-bought or handmade costumes in these categories: pet, baby (age 0-2), child (age 3+), group, family, couple and adult.
There’s also a “Most Creative Costume” category, open only to homemade creations.
Prizes
“Most Creative Costume” awards are:
- First place: $300
- Second place: $100
- Third place: $50
In the other seven categories, prizes are:
- First place: $100
- Second place: $50
- Third place: $25
Rules
Check the requirements for each category to ensure your costume qualifies.
You may enter multiple costumes as separate submissions — except when they’re part of a couple or group entry.
How to Enter
Upload up to 10 photos here. Include a description of how you assembled the costume, the materials used and the cost if it’s homemade.
The deadline is Nov. 20. Winners will be announced and prizes paid via PayPal in late November.
2. Halloween Express
This well-known costume retailer’s contest is in its fourth year and drew 5,000 entries last season. Check out the past winners here.
This year Halloween Express will award $10,500 in total cash prizes.
Categories
Enter in one of these groups: adult couples, adult singles, child/teen/tween, infant/toddler, pets and group.
Prizes
Winners in each of the six categories can earn:
- First place: $750
- Runner-up: $500
- Third Place (2): $250 HalloweenExpress.com voucher
Rules
Costumes must be homemade.
The contest defines that as “constructed with at least 50% materials that are not from a store-bought Halloween costume.”
Submit original photos of the person wearing the costume taken between Sept. 1 and Nov. 4. Costumes may have been made at any time.
Entrants must be U.S. residents and at least 18 years old. For categories involving children, a parent or legal guardian must submit photos.
How to Enter
Submit up to three photos of your costume online before midnight EST on Nov. 4. Provide your full name, street address and email.
Include a short description of the costume: your inspiration, how it was made, materials and accessories, and how it was received at Halloween events.
Read the full rules here before submitting.
Entries will be judged on execution, originality, creativity and the written story behind the costume.
Winners will be announced by Dec. 1 and paid via PayPal.
3. Coolest Homemade Costumes
The contest at Coolest Homemade Costumes focuses on sharing your creation and inspiring others with your imaginative (and cool) designs.
Prizes
This year’s exact prizes aren’t detailed in the guidelines, but the contest has run since 2004 and typically gives cash awards in the $100–$150 range, plus grand prizes around $300–$500.
The contest has also offered smaller awards like store credit or gift cards for costume-related retailers, depending on sponsors.
How to Enter
Provide a creative title for your entry, a write-up of at least 300 words about the costume-making process and reactions, up to 10 photos and an optional video.
Because the story matters as much as the costume, “invest as much thought and creativity in your write-up as you did in constructing the costume,” the site urges.
4 and 5. Kid to Kid
If you’re posting your kids’ costumes on Instagram or Facebook already, you may as well enter to win cash from these Kid to Kid contests!
Prizes
Prizes include:
- $250 grand prize to the Facebook entry with the most likes
- $100 grand prize to the Instagram entry with the most likes
- Several $25 Kid to Kid gift cards to top costumes chosen by the judges
How to Enter on Instagram
- Follow @kidtokid on Instagram.
- Post your photo to your public profile with the hashtags #KidtoKid and #KidtoKidCostumeContest. Deadline: midnight MST on Nov. 3.
- On Nov. 4, Kid to Kid will pick finalists and post them to the @kidtokid profile.
- The finalist image with the most likes on the @kidtokid post by midnight on Nov. 7 wins the $100 grand prize.
How to Enter on Facebook
- Like Kid to Kid on Facebook.
- Post a photo of your child(ren) in costume in the comments of this post.
- The comment with the most likes by midnight MST on Nov. 3 wins the $250 grand prize.
Judges will also award several $25 gift cards to their favorite costumes from both platforms.
6. Halloween ComicFest
This Halloween ComicFest contest has one extra step — but it’s ideal for comic fans and cosplay enthusiasts!
You must submit a photo of yourself in costume while holding one of 32 free Halloween ComicFest 2016 comic books, which are available at participating local comic shops on Oct. 29.
Categories
Enter in these categories: superhero/comics, TV/movie, gamer, horror and original.
Prizes
Two grand prize winners will be randomly chosen to receive a $500 shopping spree to their local comic shop.
One adult and one child from each category will win a $100 shopping spree to their local comic store.
Additionally, the adult and child in each category who earn the most online votes will receive sponsor prize packs featuring items from Archie Comics, DK Publishing, Scholastic and more.
How to Enter
Photograph yourself in costume holding one of the free comics, then submit online here before 11:59 p.m. EST on Nov. 7.
Between Nov. 1–7, fans will vote for favorites in each category on the HCF website.
Winners will be announced on Nov. 11.
Your Turn: Will you enter your costume in a free online contest this year?
Alex Mercer is a freelance writer at Savinly. He’s contributed to various outlets and enjoys injecting a bit of humor when possible.
Interested in more Halloween and seasonal ideas? Check out these resources: free halloween events for kids, last minute costume ideas for pets, and for bargains throughout the year, see ridiculous amazon prime day deals.
