What are 10 of the most popular Halloween costumes in recent years?

A child is seen Halloween trick-or-treating. (iStock / Getty Images)

GHENT, WV (WVNS) — We’re now ten days out from Halloween–if you’re dressing up to take part in the excitement, what is your costume going to be?

The costume one wears during Halloween festivities is often viewed as the most important part of it all. Many of us already have our costume planned and prepared weeks or even months in advance.

In honor of the spookiest day of the year, let’s dive into ten of the most popular Halloween costumes in recent years (in no particular order, of course)!

Brought into pop culture by Bram Stoker, vampires have always been a popular choice for the festivities. Fangs, fake blood, and Victorian era-inspired clothing are often used to create a chilling creature of the night.

These incredible creatures are a mainstay in pop culture, with roots in ancient lore and movie franchises focused on the character. It is almost impossible to attend a costume event during the season and not encounter the part-man, part-wolf.

From Batman, Spiderman, Iron man, and more, comic book superheroes are a favorite among adults and children alike in terms of Halloween costumes. After all, with their extensive history and how ingrained these figures are in our pop culture, why wouldn’t they be?

Witches and wizards are portrayed quite frequently in Halloween movies and other media. Whether it be a spooky witch from a childhood fairytale or a certain character from Hogwarts, it would be hard to go wrong with a costume choice in this category.

Minecraft is a popular video game, having weaved itself into pop culture so heavily that it even has its own movie. From Creepers to our favorite pixelated main character, Steve, there are many characters, monsters, and animals one could select to suit up as for Halloween!

If you’re looking for a costume that will always be a hit, take your pick from the icons of the horror genre: Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, and more. These characters have left their mark not only on the silver screen, but also on the most frightening night of the year.

This is a costume with plenty of versatility. One could portray a classic clown with smiles and brightly colored costuming, or dark and chilling, evoking images of Stephen King’s Pennywise. Clown costumes have the power to blend the off-putting with charm, laughter with sudden fear, and will always be a solid choice for parties and events.

Since its release, characters like Huggy Wuggy of the popular horror video game series, Poppy Playtime, have been everywhere. The grinning blue giant along with his counterpart, Kissy Missy, are often seen during Halloween events, and one could argue the pair fit in perfectly.

Also known as the living dead, this fictional horror character is one sure to scare, especially when created using special effects makeup! Another classic, scary costume that simply cannot be beaten.

How could this list possibly be complete without the mention of ghosts? From the more intricate costumes to the classic sheet-over-the-head, the ghost is a timeless and versatile Halloween costume, and one that kids and adults alike often return to.

While not a thorough or exhaustive list, these are just a fraction of some of the most popular costumes seen frequently over the last few years. If you’re taking part in any Halloween activities, what are you planning to dress up as?