halloween 2026 – some history, costumes and decorations!

Author: rayela

Brazil 18years + Chicago 20yrs + Paducah since 2005 These have shaped my path and interests. I spent many years as an active artist (ceramics and textiles) but have focused on promoting the creative community online since 2010. My current projects are Artizan Made and this site, Creative PlaceMakers.

Halloween was yesterday and what fun I had watching videos on Instagram about how people celebrated! I saved the ones that caught my attention, tickled my funny bone or seemed worthy to share. I am not a fan of the gory side that Halloween often lifts up, but I love costumes, decorations, and weirdness. I much prefer the Day of the Dead as it is more playful and celebrates our common destiny of death and hopefully, remembrance. Make sure to have a look at the post I wrote about La Catrina and her creator, Jose Guadalupe Posada.

How do you feel about Halloween or the Day of the Dead? Leave a comment with your thoughts and if you have any links you want us to see, you can post them there as well!

I am writing stories using our categories to illustrate the creativity we see all around us. Each category has a map and below that map, you will see our members who have chosen that category as one of the six they can have. At the bottom of this post, you will see the Cultural and Historical map, appropriate for both Halloween and the Day of the Dead. Any new members who join and choose that category will automatically pop on to that map. How to join.

featured member: August Phoenix Mercantile

August Phoenix Mercantile – Heather Daveno as Moon Goddess

For many years Heather had a hat business inspired by cultures from around the world. A few years back, she broadened her interests to create complex garments and accessories. Her sewing and embroidery skills are excellent! She is also a world traveler and a great story teller. This page on her website outlines her path and directs you to other places you can follow her.

The featured image at the top is not from a Halloween event. Instead, it was from a Gala event, but almost anything Heather makes can be worn anywhere where costumes are loved. She describes:

I’m back from “Botanical Bacchanal” – this year’s fundraising gala for the Fremont Arts Council. Shown above are two of the fashions that I created for this event.

If you’ve been following me here, you know that the work at left, entitled “Dangerous Beauty” was a Victorian inspired fashion, for which I turned brocade scraps and found flora into poisonous flowers that might have been found in a medicinal specimen garden from the period. Worn in spectacular fashion by Ms. M.

I portrayed a goddess character for the Moon Garden Room, and wore a collection of things from my closet, including a kimono I hand embroidered in gold chrysanthemums, a men’s jacket and shoes from India (both thrift store finds) and a headdress crafted from a painted paper lantern supported by a pressed metal crown I brought back from Venice. A lace crown (gifted to me decades earlier) supports a beaded veil. Chinese nail covers, a cloth of silver face mask, and a leather and brass belt completed the look.

More details on her blog.

Halloween 2026 videos

I sorted them into themes and encourage you to visit the posts and look at what else these creators are making or posting. So much talent! Follow them and spread their content. We all need to beat those algorithms that keep us down….

history

lmriviere

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A post shared by LM Riviere | Time & Tales (@lmriviere)

npr

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A post shared by NPR (@npr)

wildmarymary

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A post shared by Mary Reynolds Founder of ‘We are the ARK’ (@wildmarymary)

spooky

kyrasedgwickofficial

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A post shared by Kyra (@kyrasedgwickofficial)

johnfogerty

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A post shared by John Fogerty (@johnfogerty)

community

newyorkcitykopp

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A post shared by New York City | Kelly Kopp (@newyorkcitykopp)

purplehighways

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A post shared by Shwetha Ramanna | Travel | Food | Airbnb (@purplehighways)

keepwillyweirdmadison

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A post shared by Marquette Neighborhood Assoc. (aka Willy St) (@keepwillyweirdmadison)

eurdesign_studio

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A post shared by Ginger Hartford EurDesign Studio (@eurdesign_studio)

feile_belfast

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A post shared by Feile An Phobail (@feile_belfast)

costumes

rollingnowheremusic

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A post shared by Rolling Nowhere (@rollingnowheremusic)

Make sure to also check out rollingnowheremusic‘s paintings!

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A post shared by Rolling Nowhere (@rollingnowheremusic)

yesterdaysnewsbk

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A post shared by Yesterday’s News – NYC Vintage Shop (@yesterdaysnewsbk)

greedy.peasant

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A post shared by Greedy Peasant (@greedy.peasant)

littleoddchild

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A post shared by Halli Polk | Baby + Toddler Finds (@littleoddchild)

joshsundquist

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A post shared by Josh Sundquist (@joshsundquist)

costume tutorials

justinflom

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A post shared by Justin Flom (@justinflom)

thomasdambo

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A post shared by Thomas Dambo (@thomasdambo)

hunterathome

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A post shared by Lauren Hunter (@hunterathome)

greedy.peasant

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A post shared by Greedy Peasant (@greedy.peasant)

haunted houses

ravenwolfmanor

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A post shared by Lawyer B Douglas II (@pthearse)

barberellahome

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A post shared by Kim Barber | DIY + Design (@barberellahome)

historichaunt

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A post shared by Heather Holman (@historichaunt)

animals

dognamedstella

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A post shared by Stella, Queen of Leaves • Unstable Mabel (@dognamedstella)

destinyschis

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A post shared by Destiny’s Chis (@destinyschis)

the_daxie_trouble

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A post shared by Barney, Benji, Monty, Ozzie, Bexley & Michaela (@the_daxie_trouble)

jackson_huhniverses

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A post shared by Jackson (Huhniverses) (@jackson_huhniverses)

cincinnatizoo

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A post shared by Cincinnati Zoo (@cincinnatizoo)

newyorkgoodboys

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A post shared by Good Boys Of New York (@newyorkgoodboys)

vintage classics

Bobby Pickett “Monster Swim”

masterofmenace

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A post shared by Vincent Price (@masterofmenace)

goldennagefilms

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A post shared by Old Hollywood (@goldennagefilms)

steve martin – king tut

what do you think? any favorites?

Let us know in the comments!

Creative PlaceMakers seeks to map creatives who stand up for social justice and the environment. The goal is to show that we are not alone, that we thrive around the world and that together, we can create a visual presence that inspires and supports. Join us! Membership is only $25/year. Each member shows up in six categories, each with their own map. New connections and inspiration will happen as we grow.

How to join: https://creativeplacemakers.net/get-listed/

Member Directory: https://creativeplacemakers.net/member-directory/

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