Halloween at MSU: Costumes and Events on the Cheap

Parading around in the best costume can be difficult as a college student—since you have around $20 to your name. How can you possibly show up your friends and colleagues when you can’t afford the new Iron Man MKIII armor? I’ll tell you how.

First off, you don’t need to do all of your shopping at places like Spirit Halloween, Wal-Mart, or K-Mart. Sure, these stores have everything you could possibly need to blow away the competition, but then you have to decide if the cost of looking good for Halloween is worth skipping a semester of school. (Oh, it is? I’m sure your parents will understand.)

It’s time to get creative. Luckily, Bozeman is chock-full of places to get awesome costumes at great prices. They probably won’t have Batman’s utility belt, but you can still put together a costume that will have your friends in a dumbfounded stupor.

• ·      Sacks Thrift Store
• ·      Nu2u Thift
• ·      Head West
• ·      Community Closet
• ·      Catwalk
• ·      Goodwill
• ·      Second Hand Rose
• ·      Re-Couture Boutique

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For more info on these stores, check out pages 32-33 in the MSU Pocket Guide.

If you’re really short on cash, your dorm room has tons of hidden treasures. There are endless possibilities if you put your mind to it. First, you’ve got your basics:

• ·      Cowboy
• ·      Zombie
• ·      Gangster
• ·      Homeless Guy
• ·      Nerd
• ·      Your “Favorite” Professor

If you’re still not sure, mix and match different ideas.

• ·      Toilet paper can easy transform you into a ghoulish mummy.
• ·      An old umbrella can be cut into bat-like wings and ears.
• ·      Your girlfriend’s make-up bag holds countless treasures for making fake cuts, bruises, and discoloration for that will make your zombie outfit come to life!
• ·      Old cardboard boxes, duct tape, CDs, and literally anything else you can think of can be combined make a killer robot costume.
• ·      Using a sleeping bag and duct tape, turn yourself into a caterpillar.

If you have a lot of outdoor gear on your hands, you can sure use that too!

• ·      Snowboarder/Skiier
• ·      Rock Climber
• ·      Lumberjack
• ·      Long-Distance Runner (short shorts and headband of course)
• ·      Hunter*
• ·      Fisherman*

*It’s probably a bad idea to bring guns to costume parties. Also be wary of fishing poles with hooks on them.

After you put together the perfect outfit, where are you going to go? Parties are always fun, but there are plenty of equally fun alternatives.

You and your friends can always head to the Procrastinator Theater on the 30th or 31st at 8pm for the annual screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Admission to the movie is one can of food (if you’re wearing a costume—two without).

If you’re not particular to singing transvestites, you can always head off-campus and engage in what Bozeman has to offer.

• ·      The Voodoo Ball 2: This 18+ event is a giant zombie-themed dancefest held at the Emerson Ballroom on the 29th.
• ·      Freaker's Ball: It’s a dance party at the Zebra Cocktail Lounge from 8pm-2am. $9 in advance or $12 at the door.
• ·      Compound Productions Halloween Bash: A 21+ costume party held at the Filling Station on the 29th.

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For more info on these events, check out this website.

So sure, you can spend the money and get that super-realistic Master Chief outfit—or you can go party it up and have a night on the town in your completely unique costume and leave a wake of amazement behind you… all while maintaining that precious wallet full of cash.