By Celina Chen ‘28, Humor Writer

Movie villains filled the Newark Academy hallways. Monsters sat at desks, dutifully taking notes of their lectures. No, this was not some parallel universe where normalcy had been replaced by supernatural beings—it was just Halloween, the one magical night where the only limit was your imagination… and, of course, the amount of candy you could stomach.

As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach quickly, it’s incredible how distant October 31 feels. Yet a glimpse into the various characters, animals, and figures people dressed up as this year serves as a reminder of just how creative—and often hilarious—Halloween is. 

The Classics

Of course, every year, there are the timeless monster costumes. Simple, versatile, and always a crowd-pleaser. Being a vampire, pumpkin, cat, ghost, or mummy screams Halloween. After all, you can never go wrong with a black pointy hat, broomstick, or a warty nose. 

Inflate Your Night

Over the past few years, inflatables have filled up the streets of New Jersey on Oct. 31. Here at Newark Academy, a varied array of sumo wrestlers, a pair of foot-tastic feet, and even a blown-up cow strolled through the hallways, bringing chuckles with them as they went. “I was an inflatable shark,” Sofie Raote, a ninth grader said, “while the rest of my friends were dinosaurs or aliens.” 

Animal Fun

When it feels a little too chilly to be trick or treating in anything but pajamas, simply slipping on a onesie can be the best decision. This comfy costume brought a new dash of color to Newark Academy classrooms with students dressed as squads of unicorns, ducks, and even monkeys.

Pickled Dill-ights

Meanwhile, in the middle school, fermented cucumbers had escaped from the cafeteria to take Halloween by storm. Pickle clones, fully clothed in large green suits, wandered the halls as onlookers giggled at the bizarre sight in front of them.

Pop Stars

Another twist unique to 2024 was the appearance of iconic pop singer costumes such as Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, or Kesha. As each of these well-known figures have their own unique trademark, including a glittery bodysuit, distinct red curls, or a blonde hairstyle with streaks of bright colors, dressing as your favorite singer has never been more memorable than this year.

Group Costumes

This past Halloween also gave us a front row seat to several creative group costumes. Strawberry Shortcake and her friends dominated social media, while Alice, the white rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, and the Queen of Hearts from “Alice in Wonderland” prepared to tumble down the rabbit hole into a whimsical new world.

This October brought a whole new look to the idea of dressing up, with costumes more creative than ever. However, like all good things, Halloween must end. As this celebrated spooky night comes to a close, jack-o-lanterns and spooky cobwebs are stored away in the basement, tucked in a corner waiting for next year. But the holiday season has only just begun: Christmas trees will be unearthed and gingerbread houses bought. Santa is just around the corner, and, as Mariah Carey would say… “It’s time!”