Halloween Costumes Inspired by National Parks

If you’re like us, you can’t get national parks off your mind, and Halloween is no exception! Our staff loves celebrating Halloween because that means it’s time to get creative and bust out our best national park-themed costumes.

Get in the Halloween *`~spirit~`* by checking out some of our favorites from over the years and learning about the connections to national parks.

Rosie the Riveter

Rosie the Riveter costume

NPF Photo

Feel strong and empowered as Rosie the Riveter! This iconic figure is memorialized at the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park in California to pay tribute to the 12 million women who joined the defense industries and support services across the nation during World War II.  

Choose from these items: 

• Coveralls or jeans and a denim shirt  
• Bandana for your hair 
• The iconic Rosie flexed arm stance 

Rosies of the day tore down barriers to support their nation. We’re proud to preserve and share stories of trailblazing women who challenge us all to examine America's history through our Women In Parks initiative. 

Fat Bear Contestant

Be the comfiest on Halloween when you dress up as a fat bear! The highly-anticipated annual Fat Bear Week organized by Katmai National Park and Preserve aims to educate the public about the importance of bulking up before hibernation. The fatter the bear, the better the chances of survival. 

Fat Bear costume

NPF Photo

To be to be the champion of Halloween, here’s what you need: 

• A furry onesie 
• Bear ears 
• Trophy 
• Write your favorite bear’s name on a nametag 
• Campaign sign

To truly embody the brown bear, check out the Explore.org webcam of Brooks Falls, made possible in 2017 by NPF. Katmai is so remote, the only way to get there is to arrive by plane, which can be a barrier for students. Webcams help bring the park to people anytime, anywhere. 

Don’t fancy being a fat bear? Perhaps another iconic national park animal is more your speed. Spread your wings as the Golden Eagle or wolf of Yellowstone National Park. NPF proudly helps to protect these vulnerable species, ensuring their health for generations to come.

Saguaro Cactus

Saguaro cactus costume

NPF Photo

Despite how prickly they are, cacti actually bring people together. In the past, NPF has supported projects that brought young people to Saguaro National Park, through Open OutDoors for Kids, research and data collection projects, and the Next Generation Ranger Corps program. 

Become a Giant Saguaro cactus: 

• Cardboard 
• Scissors 
• Green markers or paint 

Half Dome

Half Dome costume and inspiration

NPF Photo

Become the Halloween party favorite and dress up as iconic Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. Want to go eco-friendly and make a costume with supplies you already have in your closet? We’ve got you.  

Grab these essentials: 

• Gray shirt and pants 
• Hiking boots for rocky terrain 
• Craft cord to create the ladder 
• Gloves to protect your hands when holding the cables 
• Safety pins 

Want to see Half Dome for yourself? Download NPF's Happy Trails: 25 Unforgettable National Park Hikes, a must-have for planning the perfect national park adventure! Plan to visit Tenaya Lake, a magnificent High Sierra frontcountry lake, and you might find yourself on the south side trail, which NPF helped restore by delineating a single trail and creating better vegetation and wildlife habitats.

Pick a Park!

Prove your love for your favorite national park by becoming it. Really be the park. Here we have the snow globe version of Assateague Island National Seashore.

Alissa's snowglobe costume

NPF Photo

What you’ll need depends on the park you choose, so the creativity and options are limitless. In her case, Alissa cut an oval out of Styrofoam and cut a hole in the center of it to stand in. She used the scraps to create the landscape of the seashore, covered it with sandpaper, trees, and horses. Alissa painted the lower elevations blue, covered it with epoxy, and added sea animals. Finally, she constructed the scaffolding for the snow globe out of modeling wire and fitted plastic craft sheets to the structure. She created a harness out of belts, secured them to the base, and used it to suspend the snow globe around her body. 

Need some inspiration? Take the Find Your Park Quiz. You provide the answers and we’ll offer the perfect park pairing. 

Have you worn a creative national park-themed costume for Halloween? Share it with us in the comments!