If you take a walk around any American town at this time of the year, chances are that you’ll notice some spooky decorations on people’s houses and front yards. You might see spider webs hanging in trees, or pumpkins with scary faces carved into them sitting on people’s front porches. This is how you can tell that it’s almost time for one of America’s most popular holidays: Halloween!

American families celebrate Halloween in lots of fun ways–carving pumpkins, displaying spooky decorations, and exploring hay mazes and haunted houses to name a few. But the most popular tradition of all is to dress in costume and go “trick-or-treating”—the act of ringing the neighbors’ doorbells to ask for candy.

If your host family is game, we recommend organizing a group costume—dressing up together is a great bonding activity and a way to involve everyone in one of the most fun nights you’ll experience all year! Here are some of our costume faves worn by our very creative Cultural Care program participants!

1. In-N-Out Burger staff

We appreciate this creative yet macabre interpretation of a fire rescue scene: complete with a burning apartment, fire, firefighter, fire dog, and fire hydrant.

2. The shark family

Featuring: Colombian au pair Paola with the Grims family of Maryland. This easy-to-make group costume represents one of the world’s most popular YouTube videos and comes with its own catchy theme song. We’ll get you started: “Baby shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo”.

3. Favorite foods

Featuring: Brazilian au pair Bianca with the Rosario family of WA. This colorful ensemble represents many of the basic food groups—in fact, we think PB&Js should be in a category all their own!

4. Little Red Riding Hood

Featuring: Dutch au pair Laura with the Udani family of NC. This group does “classic fairy tale” so well. Their costumes are spot on, but their expressions are the best part of the whole look!

5. Skeleton crew

Featuring: Colombian au pair Maria with the Flores family of TX. There’s no doubt these five skellies belong together—we love their matching cozy costumes!

6. The Mario Bros

Featuring: Swedish au pair Emma and the Nolan family of Minnesota. Make any Halloween party a Mario party with the whole crew of the video game!

7. Toy Story

Featuring: Hungarian au pair Klaudia with the Miller family of CO. All of the major players are present for this group effort: say hello to Woody, Bo Peep, Jessie, and Buzz!

8. Tiger King

Featuring: Colombian au pair Laura with the Kornesczuk family of IL. Joe Exotic and his streak of tigers look ready for some serious candy collecting!

9. Harry Potter

Featuring: German au pair Lisa with the Novarr family of Virginia. The Hogwarts gang’s almost all here! We see Dumbledore, Dobby, Hedwig, Professor McGonagall, Hagart, Hermione—who’s your favorite?

10. Honey bee gang

Featuring: Mexican au pair Monserrat with the Tonelli family of CA. These trick-or-treaters are creating quite a buzz in their honeybee-themed costume. They are just the sweetest!

We hope these amazing group costumes will leave you inspired to celebrate Halloween with your host family this season!

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