The perfect disguise

Don’t be scared if you happen to see Michael Jackson or Patrick Swayze walking around West Texas this Halloween. The “King of Pop” and the “Dirty Dancing” heartthrob are some of the popular costumes being picked by trick-or-treaters young and old for 2009.
   “The ’80s are the most popular ones,” said Sarah Licon, a Spirit Halloween Store associate.
   Included in the popular ’80s costumes are Michael Myers from the “Halloween” movies, Freddy Krueger from “Nightmare on Elm Street,” and “Ren McCormack,” Kevin Bacon’s character in “Footloose.”
   “It’s all fun,” Licon, 17, said. “Halloween’s all about dressing up.”
   Costume rentals are also getting their share of use this October. Liz Atkinson, owner of Chubby’s Party Emporium, said themes tend to be the trend among renters. She keeps everything in stock, just in case, but there are times when some costumes just become unpopular.
   “One year, you’ll have everybody (do) one thing and then the next year, you couldn’t rent it for your life,” Atkinson said.
   This year old westerners are in demand, last year, flapper girl costumes from the 1920s topped the list.
   “They use it up, and then they move on,” Atkinson said.
   Kids costumes also have their popular picks.
   Next to the traditional zombies and witches, Licon said a lot of Basin-area youths are going door-to-door this year as their favorite NASCAR driver.
   “A lot of them want to be Dale Earnhardt,” she said.
   Dead cheerleaders and athletes are also popular children choices with Atkinson.
   But the fun and games doesn’t end with the kids, couples going out to parties together also have a wide variety of options.
   “We have a lot of funny costumes,” Licon said.
   Duos have the choice of going as super heroes, bacon and eggs, or even a plug and an outlet. Muppet characters Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy are some of the more popular partnered costumes, Licon said.
   Even those tying the knot on All Hallows Eve can play dress up.
   Atkinson said she’s dressing up a couple and their friends as “The Addams Family” for their Halloween wedding and Angelica Martinez as the Bride of Frankenstein for her special day.
   “I love Halloween so much, it’s crazy,” Martinez said. “I am so excited.”
   Cody Fisher, Martinez’s husband-to-be, isn’t sure what he’ll dress up as yet. Maybe Dracula, maybe Freddy Krueger; he’s just not sure.
   What is certain is the costume requirements for the spooky reception.
   “You must have a costume to enter,” Martinez said. “It’s not just a wedding, it’s a Halloween bash.”
   Along with the actual bar for drinks, Martinez plans to have a candy bar as well.
   The actual ceremony is staying traditional — after all, weddings are scary enough.