Halloween falls on a Saturday, and that means many vacationers will have the rare opportunity to celebrate the holiday on a weekend getaway to the Grand Strand. If you think Myrtle Beach is fun for the whole family, friends and couples during the summertime, you need to experience the spookiest day of the year by staying at the Ocean Reef Resort and checking out all the great things to do for kids and grown-ups alike.
Of course, you don't have the time, space or energy to come up with a Halloween costume that will fit inside your suitcase, but you don't want to be “that person” – you know the one who shows up at a Halloween party dressed the same as they do the other 364 days of the year. In fact, with a little creativity and resourcefulness, you can not only come up with a passable costume but maybe even a contest winner.
Costume contests, live music and dancing are among the many festivities on tap for adults, and the kids have lots of opportunities around town for trick-or-treating, costume contests and haunted attractions. If you want to look your Halloween best, here are a few simple ideas for making a costume in your hotel room:
Common household or hotel items can be easily converted into a costume, especially if you received your Boy Scout or Girls Scout badge for arts and crafts. Pack a few extra sheets for a Greek toga or a tried-and-true ghost costume, and colorful blankets combined with belts and some construction paper can instantly turn a child into a cartoon character, like the Cookie Monster or a Pac-Man ghost. Teens and tweens have some easy options for popular books characters, like school uniform clothing from the Harry Potter series, or bizarre outfits from the Hunger Games novels. In a pinch, even a large plastic trash bag can be used as a canvas for all kinds of unique outfits, such as a backdrop for an emoji sign or the California Raisins.
We're in the midst of an election year so Presidential candidates are easy and convenient costumes that allow you to be current. A business suit will do the trick for most candidates, and the race has two female contenders, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Carly Fiorina, so women can get into the campaign spirit as well. Use the in-room hair dryer to create a Donald Trump pompadour, or go with the frizzy-haired look of Bernie Sanders. If you bare a closer resemblance to any of the candidates, you are sure to win a few votes at the costume contests. Just be sure to pick one who will still be in the race come Oct. 31.
This one might seem obvious since, technically speaking, you already are one, but dressing up like over-the-top tourists is cheap and easy. Just stop at one of the many beachwear stores in Myrtle Beach and you can pick up the entire ensemble for less than $10 bucks. Get a Hawaiian print shirt to wear over your “Myrtle Beach” T-shirt, and throw on some white socks with those sandals. Don't forget the wide-brimmed straw hat and the sunscreen on your nose, and a small map or coupon book from the hotel lobby serve as the perfect props.
From pirate toys to sailor suits, beachwear stores can be a treasure trove of inexpensive Halloween costume gear. The cheap plastic trinkets sold at some of the shops can be 99-cent gold. For instance, one recent visitor picked up a dozen rubber shark toys, attached them to their regular clothing and posed as the victim from the campy hit “Sharknado” movies. Other ideas include Captain Jack Sparrow from “Pirates of the Caribbean” or the cast and crew of the SS Minnow of “Gilligan's Island” fame. For a real show-stopper and potential costume winner, head to specialty shops such as Imaginations and Halloween Spirit in the Fantasy Harbour district.
Be sure to consider the weather when picking out your Halloween costume for Myrtle Beach. It can get a bit chilly at nights in the fall, so the idea to wear your bikini or swimsuit might not seem so smart when you are partying the night away. Still, the temperatures are usually mild so anything with sleeves and leggings should be suitable for indoor and outdoor Halloween festivities.
Whatever costume you come up with and whichever parties you decide to attend, be sure to end the night with a comfortable and relaxing stay at Ocean Reef Resort, Myrtle Beach that is far from scary.
(Posted: 9/23/15)
