written by Connor Hayes
Suwannee Hulaween is back, but with a very different theme from last year’s Ghoul Train 70’s extravaganza. This year the staple Florida festival is going back to the 1980’s, with String Cheese Incident hosting “Stringier Things”, an ode to everything 80’s. Need a costume? We’ve got you covered. Check out some of our favorite picks below:
8. Joel Goodson from Risky Business: Sometimes you’ve just gotta say “What the Heck!”. Especially with the new 1980’s theme, posh clubbing jackets and suits are going to be your best friends. With the Florida sweltering during the day, you can don your best knee high socks, pajamas, and grab a trophy as a mic.
7. The Griswolds: Where do you think you’re going? Nobody’s leaving. Nobody’s walking out on this fun, old-fashioned festival. Certainly not when your tribe is dressed as America’s favorite roadtripping family. It’s okay if you’re from out of town, no 80’s clan is more recognizable than Clark, Ellen, Rusty, and Audrey. Just be sure to leave your campsite better than how you found it, because the penalties for environmental damage in Florida…they’re probably pretty stiff.
6. Ren and Ariel from Footloose- Don’t let anyone tell you only pansies wear neckties. They’re great even in a festival setting, especially if you’ve got Ren’s moves to back it up. You’ll need a tuxedo for Ren, and an 80’s style flowy dress for Ariel. You’ll probably memorize bus schedules too, as Spirit of Suwannee Music Park’s new tram system for getting you to and from the campgrounds will make everyone want to dance.
5. Lloyd Dobler from Say Anything: We already lift a variety of objects above our heads during a particularly crunchy set: flags, totems, inflatable instruments, why not a boombox? Channel your inner stoic romantic by popping in a Peter Gabriel cassette, and wade through the crowd in your signature brown trench coat (which can be pretty handy, as the nights at Spirit of Suwannee Music Park get surprisingly cold). The world is full of guys, so be a man, don’t be a guy.
4. Bill and Ted: Don’t let your Hulaween costumes be bogus, go as the second most beloved time travelling duo of the 1980’s. Bill S. Preston, esquire, needs only a curly blonde wig and a casual jacket a shirt combo, whereas Ted Theodore Logan requires a thorough bowl cut, and the late 80’s vest-shirt. And remember, Suwannee is a very beautiful place to a lot of people, be excellent to one another!
3. Ferris, Sloane, and Cameron from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: A film so seminal it needs no embellishment. Ferris is simple: just don’t forget to pack your best windbreaker, slacks, and white dress shoes. Stylized hockey jerseys are already making their rounds in certain circles of festival fashion, so it’s very easy to pull off Cameron’s overly worried look. Sloan is a bit tougher, but the fringe jacket is a staple. Perhaps carry around some “Save Ferris” shirts to trade for pins, hats, etc.
2. Goose and Maverick from Top Gun: Even if you’ve lost that lovin feeling, you can get it back easy by going as two of the hottest joystick jockeys in the Naval Fighter Weapons School. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a 4g inverted dive with a MiG28, flight jackets are always a good decision. Gives a whole new definition to Lettuce’s “Fly”.
1. Marty and Doc from Back to the Future: The timeless dynamic duo is a hotter fest fashion statement than a Delorean accelerating to 88 mph. And let’s face it, there really is nothing better than getting down with the energy of 1.21 Jigawatts. Just don’t forget to put extra gel in your hair to pull off the quintessential Dr. Emmet Brown look.
The Economics Teacher from Ferris Bueller (Honorable Mention) : Easy to do, just walking around yelling “Bueller…Bueller…Bueller”.