8 Indiana-Themed Halloween Costumes to Try in 2025

From hoops to covered bridges, Indiana has no shortage of inspiration for creative Halloween costumes. Looking for something funny, clever or spooky? Check, check and check. We’ve come up with eight costume ideas that show off Indiana pride.

1. The Hoosier Ghost

The Hoosier Ghost is inspired by Indiana’s many haunted landmarks, from the Willard Library in Evansville and Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis to the Roads Hotel in Atlanta and Whispers Estate in Mitchell.

Items you’ll need to complete the costume include a flowing white bed sheet, an old nightgown and a customized Willard Library ghost camera badge to stick on the bed sheet. This costume is affordable with a side of spooky, and connects directly to Indiana’s most haunted places.

2. Covered Bridge Ghost

The Hoosier State’s biggest festival spans 10 days and is celebrated in nine towns across Parke County in west central Indiana. It’s called the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival. In fact, there are 31 covered bridges in Parke County, more than any other county in the United States.

To dress as a Covered Bridge Ghost, put on some vintage clothes, cover yourself in fake cobwebs and fake spiders, and carry a lantern. This costume will be spooky and unique, and you’ll have a chance to share information about Parke County’s bridges with friends and family when they ask what you are.

3. Catacombs Explorer

This costume is inspired by the underground tunnels beneath Indianapolis’ City Market. Built in 1886, the Catacombs initially served as storage for the market before being mostly abandoned after a fire destroyed Tomlinson Hall in 1958. Legitimate Catacombs tours are expected to resume in 2026.

Grab a backpack and dress the part of an explorer. Don’t forget your flashlight.

4. IndyCar / Racing Driver

If there’s one thing Indiana is known for, it’s the Indianapolis 500 and the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Beyond the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, there are historic dirt tracks and raceways all over Indiana, so you can’t go wrong with wanting to dress as a racing legend.

Slip into a racing jumpsuit or mechanic coveralls, pop on a helmet and don’t forget a green or checkered flag. This costume may be a little more pricey than others, but it’ll be popular, meaning you won’t be the only driver turning left on the sidewalks trick-or-treating.

5. Larry Legend

This costume recognizes French Lick, Ind. native Larry Bird, one of the greatest basketball players of all time. With nicknames like “Larry Legend” and “the hick from French Lick”, Larry Bird is an absolute icon on the basketball scene in the Hoosier State. He’s the only person in NBA history to win Rookie of the Year, MVP, All-Star MVP, Finals MVP, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year. Yeah, he’s pretty good.

If you wear Bird’s No. 33 Boston Celtics jersey with white basketball shoes and a curly blonde wig (if your hair isn’t already blonde and curly), you’ll look the part. Get costume bonus points if you sport a No. 33 Indiana State Sycamores or No. 33 Springs Valley High School jersey with Bird’s name on the back.

Random fun fact (and not a paid advertisement): Larry Bird gets his haircut at Sport Clips, so if you need a trim of that curly blonde hair, you know where to go.

6. Mascot Madness

Purdue Pete is… well, he’s just kind of scary looking to begin with. You’ll need Purdue apparel of some sort, plus a hard hat, work boots and a foam hammer.

If you want to dress as an Indiana-based college mascot and not look quite as frightening, slide into a green suit jacket with a white button-up shirt, bow tie, top hat and real (or fake) red beard to look like the Notre Dame Leprechaun.

7. Santa Claus

Dressing as Santa Claus for Halloween may be unheard of, but not if you’re a superfan of one of Indiana’s most popular small towns.

To ensure you’re no ordinary Santa Claus that eats cookies and leaves presents under the tree, carry around a “Welcome to Santa Claus, IN” sign along with your candy canes.

8. The Popcorn King

The 2025 editions of the Valparaiso Popcorn Festival, Corydon Popcorn Festival and Van Buren Popcorn Festival have come and gone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still celebrate Indiana being one of America’s biggest popcorn producers.

To properly do so, dress up like the popcorn king himself Orville Redenbacher, a native of Brazil, Ind. Pop into a white lab coat or tan suit jacket, wear a bow tie, fake glasses and crown if you’d like, and carry around a bowl of popcorn.