Halloween at Alabama: How many costumes does one student need?
For some the festivities mean a new costume for every event. For others, one is more than enough.
At The University of Alabama, Halloween is more than just a holiday — it’s a weeklong event.
While many colleges celebrate Halloween primarily during Halloweekend, Alabama students have Halloweek, a stretch of themed date parties, fraternity Halloween events and celebrations leading up to Oct. 31. With so many festivities to dress up for, students often find themselves needing more than one costume.
According to Orange Pulse’s reported national average, college students typically have two Halloween costumes. But when asked how many costumes they had prepared for Halloween, University of Alabama students gave answers that were wildly different.
Amaya Mena, a junior management information systems major, said she has four costumes planned for the week, with each serving a different purpose.
“I got invited to a date party, so I’m matching with him,” Mena said. “My sorority had a date party and the theme was like duos, so me and my friend had a matching costume, and the other two are just random for the rest of the week.”
For some students, having multiple costumes is part of the fun. With different events throughout the week, each occasion can call for a different look.
Taylor Tynan, a junior business major, said she bought seven costumes this year.
“I bought seven costumes because I’m indecisive and just wanted to have a lot of options,” Tynan said.
Not every student plans to spend the entire week celebrating in Tuscaloosa, however. With fall break giving students time away from campus, some are heading home or traveling to other college towns for Halloween festivities.
Tynan believes Florida State University offers a more enjoyable Halloween experience than Alabama, adding that many Alabama students leave Tuscaloosa to celebrate there.
“I think it’s more fun than Bama, and so many people leave to go there,” Tynan said.
For students who plan to head home for the holiday, buying several costumes may not make much sense.
Maddy Greenwalt, a freshman double majoring in political science and psychology, said she only has one costume this year. Her plans for Halloween are much quieter than the typical Halloweek schedule.
“I only have one Halloween costume that was a date party for my sorority,” Greenwalt said. “I’m going home for Halloween, and my mom and I are gonna watch a movie, so there’s no point in getting another one.”
From students preparing seven different looks to those wanting a quiet night at home, Halloween looks different for everyone at Alabama. For some the festivities mean a new costume for every event. For others, one is more than enough.
