How to Include Your Bicycle in Your Halloween Costume

The most wicked thing a trick-or-treater could do is show up at someone’s door with not just one pumpkin basket but two. One in hand and another attached to their kids bike, collecting treats wherever their pedals take them! Not to mention the spooky eyes that follow as they cruise through the ghoulish streets with a witchful thinking that they should have done the same.

But your wish is our spell, so we’re here to help you and your little one lead the Halloween parade on wheels! Here are some ideas for dressing up your bike to fit the theme.

Safety first: when riding in the dark on Halloween, make sure your child is visible to road users and can see where they are going! Consider incorporating bright colours and bike lights into the costume.

Keep It Plain but Ghostly Enough

Simple is best for ghostly quests, and nothing is more haunting than having your bike join the fun. Don’t let your child get busted, though—instead, let them blend in along with their two wheels.

You’ll need a large white sheet to drape over the entire bike and billow it out like a ghost. Less fabric is likely needed if decorating a balance bike. Opt for torn sheets or cheesecloth for a more ragged, eerie look.

If you’ve got some extra fabric, make a ghostly head. Take a small piece and stuff it lightly with tissue or cotton to give it some shape. Attach this to the front, like a hood ornament, or hang it from the handlebars.

Don’t forget to decorate the wheels; take a light sheet and wrap it around the wheels using clips. Make sure it doesn’t touch the chain or tyre to avoid tangling. As your kid pedals, the sheet will move with the wheels, making it seem like they’re floating!

Tip: Go the extra mile by attaching a few battery-operated lanterns covered in white fabric. This should amp up the vibe, especially when riding out at night.

Matching Bike Basket = More Treats!

Bike baskets will make more room for all those treats *evil laugh*. So, whatever theme you plan to outfit your child’s bike with, make sure the basket is attached and matching. For instance, if it’s a Ghostbusters theme, use green or black paint or fabric to create an ectoplasm-dripping effect.

A witch’s cauldron sounds terrific, too! This wicker basket bike could work well thanks to its rounded design. Cover it with a black fabric and add a liner with fake spider webs over the basket. If you have the resources, use cotton or polyester stuffing to create a smoke effect.

Keep the bicycle basket empty for the sweets—and perhaps seal it with a spell so no one would dare steal from you!

Witches and Warlocks for a Spellbinding Ride

(Image Credit: Pexels)

Pay homage to the classic figures of Halloween by turning your bike into a broom, and pedal your way to the witches’ road. This is a spooktacular idea if your little one is dressing up as a powerful witch or warlock.

You can cover the bicycle with green, red, and purple fabrics, just as you would with the ghost theme. If a regular broom fits the bike, just use that to skip the hassle of making one. If not, maybe the little witch can cast a spell to create one!

Attach a lightweight, long broom handle horizontally across the bike frame. At the end of the stick, tie a few pieces of straw or some fake broom bristles (you can pick those up in a Halloween shop). Be careful not to extend it too far out, as it could become a tripping hazard or affect the bike’s balance.

Decorate the basket or seat with a small plush black cat, bat, or crow for extra touches. To finish off the look, have your young sorceress wear their pointy hat and cape. It’ll tie everything together perfectly!

This idea does the trick for grown-ups with adult bikes as well! Scale up the decorations to fit those bigger frames and 700c wheels.

Save the Front Basket for Your Alien Friend

If you want something simpler than the first concept, this nostalgic theme is the way to go. It’s about a boy who rides his bike with an alien friend covered with a blanket in the front basket—like this oversized allotment basket. Sounds familiar?

What we love about this idea is that there isn’t much decorating to do while still having a fun, head-turning Halloween feel. Dress your little rider in a red hoodie, jeans, and white sneakers. The front bike basket should hold a plush toy or alien prop wrapped in a white blanket.

You can add some small touches on the bike frame with cardboard cutouts of stars or moons to give a “flying through the sky” impression. With a ding-dong from the bike bell, they’re ready to take off and go trick-or-treating!

Tip: A rear pannier, like this double pannier bag, can work well for carrying candies, so the front basket stays free for the alien friend. 

Dress up as a Go-Karting Character

Halloween bike rides are best done with friends, and nothing is more fitting than to have a group costume. Characters from everyone’s favourite much-loved childhood go-karting game are a fun idea! Plan this with your child’s crew (and their parents); even better, if they’re siblings.

One child can dress up as the heroic racer, wearing a red cap with their initials as a logo, a red shirt, and blue overalls. Pair the look with white gloves, brown shoes, and a kids red bike. Another can mirror this outfit but in green, with a matching green bike. And let’s not forget the princess—she’ll look great in a pink dress with puffed sleeves and a tiara, plus two wheels like this Bobbin Gingersnap in Blossom Pink.

DIY tip: Instead of hats and tiaras, paint their bike helmets in the corresponding colours. For instance, use white paint to write the their initials or logo in the red helmet and green helmet. And this pink helmet with golden stars will make the perfect crown. Not only will these headpieces add a statement to their look, but they’ll also improve road safety.

Pedal to the Upside Down

The quickest and arguably safest way to reach the dark parallel world and outrun the sinister creatures is by bike. Just make sure you’ve got a working bike light for better visibility in the dark world.

They aren’t just ordinary bicycles, though; they have to be vintage style bikes. A Sting-Ray or Krate, for one, is perfect. But anything your young riders own will work. Once that’s sorted out, all your kids (including you) have to do is choose their 80s-themed costumes.

Your little girl will look cute in a pink dress with a white collar and a denim jacket. Another option is a plaid flannel shirt and a retro-style baseball cap for a boy. The third rider can layer a plaid shirt over a T-shirt paired with jeans and sneakers. A sweater or sweatshirt works for another, and finish the look with a simple vintage graphic tee and jeans for the last one. Keep the makeup and hair simple, but feel free to add some dirt smudges for that authentic look.

Don’t forget to pack waffle bites in the baskets, and the squad will be ready to trick-or-treat to the side of the world (neighbourhood). Warning: don’t get lost!

Best type of bike for a Halloween costume

If you're looking for a bicycle that is easy to make a Halloween costume out of, here are some ideas from our bike experts.

For children, look for a bike with a basket included. This makes it easier for them to carry their trick and treat rewards, as well as providing loads of great costume potential.

For adults, consider a foldable bike. Not only are they easy to store and to take on public transport, but their small wheels can give you a lot more space for the different parts of your costume to be fitted into place.

We hope you’ve picked up some eerie-sistable inspiration and fun ideas from our list. Remember to get creative, have fun, stay safe out there, and try not to scoff at all the candies in one go (rules apply to adults, too). Happy Halloween!