The Best Star Wars Costumes for a Family Halloween

There was a time when dressing the whole family for Halloween meant Dad wore a rubber monster mask while the kids fought over who got the good plastic sword. "Star Wars" changed the possibilities considerably. A family could suddenly become a band of Rebels, Imperial officers, Jedi Knights, or suspicious characters who probably owed Jabba the Hutt money.

That tradition has only grown as the galaxy has expanded. Darth Vader remains one of the great Halloween costumes. At the same time, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, stormtroopers, and Chewbacca can turn an ordinary trip around the neighborhood into something resembling the evacuation of the Death Star. Newer characters have joined them, giving parents and children enough choices to assemble their own unlikely corner of the galaxy.

The real pleasure comes from putting everyone together. A lone stormtrooper is a costume, but several marching down the sidewalk begin to look like an occupation. Add Darth Vader, and the neighbors may reconsider handing out the cheap candy.

Star Wars costumes also give every family member a role to play. Heroes, villains, droids, aliens, bounty hunters, and even the family pet can join the adventure. The only difficult part may be deciding who gets to carry the lightsaber.

Imperial Neighborhood Patrol

Nobody joins the Empire because he wants flexible hours and friendly management. He joins because few things command attention like white armor and a helmet suggesting that somebody, somewhere, has violated an Imperial regulation.

This Stormtrooper costume gives Dad the chance to patrol Halloween with appropriate authority. The children can handle the candy negotiations. His job is to look intimidating, guard the sidewalk, and occasionally miss something directly in front of him.

The Neighborhood Jedi

Every family needs one person who remains calm when Halloween descends into chaos. A Jedi robe helps Dad look like that person, even when two children are arguing over candy, and somebody has lost a lightsaber.

The layered tunic and hooded cloak provide the proper old-order appearance. The greater challenge is maintaining Jedi dignity while walking suburban sidewalks, carrying three candy buckets, and explaining that the Force cannot locate a missing car key.

The Force Before Bedtime

Every young Jedi eventually discovers that the Force is powerful, mysterious, and completely useless when Mom says it is time for bed. This outfit gives the household apprentice everything needed to challenge that ruling, including a hooded robe, tunic, belt, and blue lightsaber.

The evening should proceed peacefully until somebody mentions Darth Vader. Then the living room becomes a training ground, Dad becomes a Sith Lord, and the furniture learns why Jedi traditionally train outdoors.

The Family Crime Lord

Jabba has never needed a lightsaber, blaster, or respectable waistline to dominate a room. This inflatable costume turns Dad into the galaxy's most notorious gangster, complete with enough bulk to make every doorway feel like a diplomatic incident.

The built-in fan keeps the crime lord properly enormous while the family handles trick-or-treating. By evening's end, Jabba may have collected no bounties, but he will have acquired something better, namely first choice from the candy haul.

Imperial Snow Day

Every young Imperial recruit eventually learns that conquering the galaxy means working in unpleasant weather. This Snowtrooper costume gives one junior trooper enough padded authority to accompany Dad's Stormtrooper while treating the neighborhood like a frozen outpost awaiting inspection.

The mask provides another useful Imperial tradition by making complaints about walking impossible to identify. After several houses, however, loyalty may weaken. Even the Empire struggles to compete with a warm kitchen, hot chocolate, and a bucket of candy.

Bounty Hunter Dad

The Mandalorian rarely wastes words, which makes him an excellent costume choice for fathers who have already answered "Are we there yet?" seventeen times. The cape and familiar helmet supply enough frontier menace to suggest that Halloween candy is merely another valuable cargo moving through dangerous territory.

Better still, Dad can remain mysteriously silent while the children negotiate at each door. By evening's end, his bounty may be getting everyone home, gloves and dignity intact.

Imperial Middle Management

Some fathers spend Halloween carrying flashlights and spare jackets. Others prefer to supervise the operation like a man who has personally reviewed the Death Star budget and found several departments wanting.

The uniform does most of the work, but the expression matters. A slight frown can turn candy inspection into Imperial procedure. By the third block, even the children may begin reporting rebel activity, missed curfews, and suspiciously generous houses to their commanding officer.

The Smallest Warrior on Endor

Few sights are more disarming than a baby dressed as an Ewok, which may explain how the Empire managed to lose an entire legion to them. This costume wraps the newest family member in a plush hooded jumpsuit inspired by the inhabitants of Endor, complete with long sleeves and full-body coverage.

The strategic possibilities are considerable. Mom and Dad can dress as Leia and Han, the older children can become Jedi or stormtroopers, and the baby gets the enviable assignment of being carried from house to house while looking irresistibly fuzzy.

The Queen of Halloween

Some children collect candy. Queen Amidala receives it as tribute from grateful citizens of the Republic. Her elaborate royal wardrobe also makes the average Jedi robe look suspiciously underdressed.

The magnificent headpiece should leave little doubt about who outranks everyone in the family. Dad may command an Imperial squad, and Mom may control the household, but Halloween has a new sovereign. Any disputes over the best chocolate can now become matters of galactic diplomacy.

The Neighborhood Scavenger

Every family has one person who refuses to throw anything away because it might become useful someday. At last, "Star Wars" has given that person a uniform.

The glowing yellow eyes make the Jawa particularly effective after sunset, when Dad can wander behind the children looking for abandoned technology. Old phones, broken toys, and unattended droids are all fair game. By Halloween's end, the garage may finally qualify as a legitimate Tatooine salvage operation.

The Former Jedi

For the parent who has survived enough Halloween nights to understand why Ahsoka Tano eventually walked away from the Jedi Order.

This full costume includes the distinctive headpiece, battle uniform, guards, belt components, and enough accessories to suggest that Mom is prepared for considerably more than escorting children around the neighborhood.

The best part is the headpiece. Put it on and ordinary parental instructions suddenly acquire the authority of galactic wisdom. "Stay where I can see you." "One piece of candy at a time." "No, we are not going back to that house."