We raided Raleigh Little Theatre’s costume racks for Halloween costume ideas with a North Carolina spin. Here’s what we came up with.
by Ayn-Monique Klahre | photography by Charles Harris
Costume ideas by Ayn-Monique Klahre, Laura Wall and Raleigh Little Theatre Staff
When it comes to creating a good costume, “you always want to have something that pops, whether it’s a bright color or a wig or a hoop under a skirt to make it bigger,” says Jenny Mitchell, resident costume designer for Raleigh Little Theatre. Mitchell and her team make more than 500 costumes a year for RLT’s shows, from contemporary outfits to over-the-top period costumes and wigs for its annual production of Cinderella. Every other year, RLT empties its costume racks for the Raleigh Little Theatre costume sale, where visitors can find anything from vintage-inspired dresses to headpieces to men’s suits for bargain prices (in off years, NC State’s University Theatre does a sale). RLT gave us a sneak preview of the costumes that will be available at the 2026 costume sale (Oct. 10 [rain date Oct. 17]; 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 301 Pogue Street), and we brainstormed some North Carolina-centric Halloween costume ideas to consider for 2026. RLT volunteers Leslie Hearne, Allison Bertholf, Jeff McDermott, Ella Bertholf, Jane Kelley and Evie Brunelle got into character to model them for us. Here are our picks.
Costume Idea: Debutante Ball
RLT volunteers Ella Bertholf, Jane Kelley and Evie Brunelle are dressed as North Carolina debutantes, wearing vintage wedding dresses and white gloves.
Costume Idea: Matinee at Martin Marietta Center
RLT volunteers Leslie Hearne and Allison Bertholf are dressed as seniors on a big afternoon out, with their nice dresses, ladylike purses and fur coats.
Costume Idea: Performer at Raleigh Wide Open
RLT volunteers Ella Bertholf is dressed up as a singer and guitar player at the Raleigh Wide Open bluegrass music festival in a plaid shirt, jeans and boots.
Costume Idea: Edenton Tea Party
RLT volunteers Leslie Hearne, Allison Bertholf, Jane Kelley, Evie Brunelle and Ella Bertholf are dressed up as participants in the Edenton Tea Party, a political protest on Oct. 25, 1774, in which 51 women signed a formal resolution pledging to boycott British tea and cloth in opposition to taxation without representation.
Costume Idea: NC State Fair
RLT volunteers Evie Brunelle and Ella Bertholf are dressed as participants in a livestock competition at the NC State Fair in cowboy gear and a horse costume.
Costume Idea: Christina Koch
RLT volunteer Allison Bertholf is dressed as Christina Koch, the NC State graduate and astronaut who made history as the first woman to journey around the moon.
Costume Idea: Governor, First Lady and Bodyguards
RLT volunteers Jane Kelley, Jeff McDermott, Evie Brunelle and Ella Bertholf are dressed as an NC governor, first lady and bodyguards. Jackets and sunglasses, plus DIY earpieces, make the bodyguards look sharp, while a coat and tie work for the governor and a button-up jacket for the first lady.
This article originally appeared on waltermagazine.com on October 2, 2026.
