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It’s that time of year again when the area comes alive with the spirit of Halloween! Spooky sights, tricks, and treats await thrill seekers and giggling kids alike.
Southwest Louisiana has long been known for its vibrant culture and traditions, and Halloween is no exception. Halloween isn’t just a holiday; it’s an experience. Our communities come together to create unforgettable memories, blending the mystical with the merry, and the eerie with the entertaining. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
But Halloween isn’t just about the events; it’s also about the costumes that transport us into fantastical realms and the latest costume trends that promise to make your Halloween night truly unforgettable. From classic monsters to pop culture icons, we’ll explore the creative and imaginative ways you can transform yourself this season.
Whether you’re looking for family-friendly fun or spine-tingling scares, Southwest Louisiana has a treat for every trickster.
Tricks and Treats: Halloween Events in Southwest Louisiana
The Lost Hollows Haunted Attraction
September 29 – October 28
Weekly, on Fridays and Saturdays
6:00 PM – 11:30 PM
3401 Derek Drive, Lake Charles
*Special “Lights Out” edition on Halloween night
Wine-O-Ween
Friday, October 20 | 6:30 PM
Lake Area Adventures,
1337 Country Club Rd., Lake Charles
Downtown Candy Crawl
Saturday, October 28
Downtown Lake Charles
OktoBARfest at Crying Eagle
Saturday, October 28 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
1165 E. McNeese St., Lake Charles
Ghostly Gala at Two Two One Wine Bar
Saturday, October 28 | 7:30 PM
221 Main St., Jennings
Trunk or Treat at Sam Houston Jones State Park
Saturday, October 28 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
107 Sutherland Rd., Lake Charles
Not-So-Spooky Carnival at CM Farms
Saturday, October 28 & Sunday, October 29
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
252 CM Farms Rd., Dry Creek
Boo on the Avenue
Sunday, October 29 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Arthur Avenue, Lake Arthur
Trunk or Treat at SOWELA Jennings Campus
Tuesday, October 31 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
2110 N. Sherman St., Jennings
Halloween Fall Harvest Festival Trick-Or-Treat Edition
Tuesday, October 31 | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
MLK Center, 2009 N. Simmons St., Lake Charles
2023 Costume Trends
by Kerry Andersen
Spooky season is creeping up on us. Soon, Halloween stores will be putting out their most popular costumes and your kids will be deciding which characters have them the most excited this year! Shopping for the perfect costume can be fun for the whole family. Whether everyone will take their own route or you choose a group costume, these popular trends are sure to have you turning heads this Halloween!
Barbie:
Expect to see pretty-in-pink outfits on every street this Halloween paying homage to the top movie and cultural icon of the year – Barbie! With so many iconic Barbie looks to choose from, you can really fit this costume to your style. Men can channel their inner Ken by wearing a bright pink or turquoise floral Hawaiian shirt paired with a pink visor and sunglasses. A neon green fanny pack and leg warmers will add some pizzaz for a fun solo or group costume idea. Throw on a cowboy hat or roller skates to mimic your favorite version of Barbie and Ken! With a character as iconic as Barbie over the decades, there are so many options.
Carmy, the Bear:
Hulu’s The Bear gave us the memorable character of Carmy this year, a young chef running his family’s Chicago restaurant. Carmy’s iconic look is easily recreated with a white t-shirt, jeans, sneakers, and a long navy-blue apron. Grab a frying pan for a prop and write Carmy on a nametag for a quick and easy costume for boys or men!
Swifties; The Eras Tour:
2023 was the year of Taylor Swift. Whether or not your pre-teen and teen girls saw the Eras Tour in person, they can pay homage to their favorite pop star this Halloween. It all starts with a fringed dress or skirt – the shinier and more colorful the better! Pull on some knee-high cowboy boots (preferably in white) and a stack of colorful beaded friendship bracelets and an instant “It’s Me, Hi, I’m the popular Halloween costume, it’s me!”
Wednesday:
If Barbie is a bit too vibrant for the spookiest holiday, Wednesday Addams is the antidote. This kooky and mysterious Addams Family character earned top billing in her own Netflix series this year. Her goth look is perfect for kids and adults alike. A black A-line dress with a detachable white collar, Mary Jane shoes, black braided pigtails (a wig or temporary hair dye if you want to fully commit), and of course a scowl. Top it all off with black nail polish, black tights, pale white face makeup, heavy black eyeliner, and deep red lips for a morbid look perfect for Halloween!
The Little Mermaid:
Mermaids are still the stuff of dreams for young girls, so the Ariel costume is a top pick for 2023. The shiny tail and bright, multi-colored top is sure to have those little princesses feeling ready to take to the sea. Top the costume off with a bright purple tank, a long red wig or temporary hair dye and some clip-on shell barrettes for a the ultimate under the sea look!
Poppy Playtime:
If you have kids then you already know all about Poppy Playtime! The video game characters scare people at an abandoned toy factory. They have catchy names like Huggy Wuggy (a blue fuzzy creature with big black eyes wearing yellow gloves and shoes), Kissy Missy (the female version in pink fuzz with a big red smile), and Poppy Doll (a cute doll in a blue dress that looks like a real girl with rosy cheeks and red curly hair adorned with blue bows). These will likely sell out quickly so grab them early!
Dancing Glow Stick Figures:
Tik Tok is fueling the popularity of Glow Stick Figures. What looks like a simple track suit when the sun is out becomes a hilarious light up dance party with stick people prancing around in the dark. This is an easy family or group costume to put together. Grab some black sweatshirts and leggings or sweatpants, pick up some inexpensive glowsticks of varying lengths, and then clear packing tape to stick them to the fabric. Think of the stick figures you drew as a child and mimic that shape (including a round head). Use a different colored glowstick for each person. When it gets dark, activate the glowsticks and start dancing for hours and hours of Halloween hilarity!
