Every holiday season I look forward to watching the Sound of Music and I find myself humming or singing along to the film’s soaring music. So I was most interested to discover recently that the Hollywood Bowl hosts an annual Sound of Music sing-along event.

The evening, traditionally a sell-out year after year, is a favorite for long-time devotees of the beloved family musical, which is subtitled so the whole audience can sing along, but also attracts fresh new audiences as well.

There is a pre-show costume parade, which is open to all audience members. Past costumes have included the Von Trapp children, brown paper packages tied up with string, a human gazebo (representing the one where Rolf and Liesl dance) as well as Marias and nuns in all shapes and sizes. Everyone receives a complimentary Fun Pak filled with interactive props to brandish at appropriate points in the film and the audience warms up their vocal cords during the pre-film activities.

Sounds fun, doesn’t it? If you need a unique group Halloween costume theme, take a look at some of this year’s fun and creative Sound of Music sing-along costumes (the nun costume above is my favorite!):

Want to dress like your favorite Sound of Music character? See some of our world culture costumes below:

Deluxe Nun Costume

Bavarian Yodeler Costume

Octoberfest Girl Costume

[photos via LA Times]

Ever wonder what it would have been like to be a gladiator during the time of the Roman Empire? More than a thousand civilians in togas got a chance to find out last month as they gathered around a reflecting pool in a New York City park to witness a gladiator-like battle on water.

In Ceasar’s time, it would have been called a “naumachia”, a type of nautical bloodsport in which prisoners and slaves fought against each other. In this modern day naumachia, however, it was the spectators who splashed in knee-deep water and destroyed the floating artwork that took five months to create. Ripe tomatoes were used as projectiles, hurled between warriors and spectators.

The event was called Those About to Die Salute You — named after the traditional, and final, salute shouted to the presiding emperor by the naumachia combatants.

Want to stage your own mock battle? You’ve come to the right place! Costume Craze has a fierce collection of Roman and Gladitor costumes…

Those about to fight, we salute you!

Roman Gladiator Costume

Roman Hunk Costume

Centurion Armour Set

[via Wired]

Have we said it before?

We’re proud of Costume Craze and its CEO, Kate Maloney!

Recently, Costume Craze was named one of Utah’s Fastest growing businesses and was recognized at the Utah Business Fast 50 awards luncheon on Thursday, Aug. 27.

The event was an opportunity for the 50 fastest growing and revenue-generating companies to take a minute out of their busy schedules and celebrate their accomplishments.

Derek Miller, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, spoke to the group of honorees, saying that Utah has been ranked the “No. 1 most dynamic economy in the nation,” seeing a 50% growth since 2007. He attributes this success to its values and work ethic.

Well, we know Kate Maloney is definitely guilty of long hours and hard work. That’s why Costume Craze is listed as #39 on the Utah Fast 50 list!

Way to go Kate!

What’s the perfect way to have a rockin’ marriage ceremony if you’ve already been married before and you don’t want a traditional white wedding?

Get married as the lovable Bedrock cartoon characters, of course…which is precisely how two couples from Norfolk, England, recently started their new life together.

One couple dressed as Fred and Wilma Flintstone, the other as Barney and Betty Rubble. Their wedding pictures were snapped at a dinosaur park with 165 guests dressed as cavemen and women and two best men dressed as dinosaurs.

While the ceremony started with the traditional organ sound of Wagner’s Bridal March, it quickly morphed into an organ version of The Flintstones theme tune and the couples had a tiered wedding rock cake.

Sounds positively pre-historic…and fun!

Fred Flintstone Costume

Wilma Flintstone Costume

Barney Rubble Costume

[via Nothing to do with Arbroath]

Over at the Nerd Dads website, they posted a wonderful photo gallery of kids in costumes at Comic-Con.

And wouldn’t you know… so many of the kiddies are wearing our costumes!

We thought it would be fun to take a closer look at what these kids are wearing. To see more detail, be sure to click on the photo to view full size.

1. Jedi Knights

What a formidable group of Jedi Knights! These kids are wearing several of our Jedi costumes and accessories.

Kids Deluxe Jedi Robe

Deluxe Kids Obi Wan Kenobi Costume

Anakin Skywalker Costume

Jedi Apprentice Braid

Lightsabers

2. Batgirl

Batgirl is adorable! This little crimefighter is wearing our Toddler Batgirl Costume. Bad guys beware!

3. Wonder Woman

This Amazon queen is all smiles in our Deluxe Girls Wonder Woman Costume. Get ready for Paradise Island!

4. Superheroes

These superheroes look like they mean business. When Spider-Man, The Flash and Robin the Boy Wonder team up, the criminals know it’s time to run away!

Here are the exact costumes shown in the photo:

Black-Suit Spider-Man Costume

Spiderman Deluxe Muscle Costume

Kids Muscle Chest Flash Costume

Kids Teen Titan Robin Costume

5. Darth Vader

This Darth Vader may be too young to be anyone’s father, but he’s definitely strong in the Force with our Kids Darth Vader Costume!

6. Supergirl

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s an adorable child, wearing our Kids Supergirl Costume! Is Super Cuteness a power? Obviously.

What wonderful photos! It’s so great to see our costumes in action.

Did you know that Costume Craze has almost 2,000 kids costumes? Head over to our store to view them all!

Last month, CEO Kate Maloney was honored at the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Banquet in Salt Lake City.

We finally got our hands on the video they showed at the banquet, and we’re so excited to show it to you! Learn a bit about Kate, the history of Costume Craze, take a peek at our operations – and perhaps best of all – see Kate dressed in a Jedi costume!

Congratulations, Kate!

Thirty competitors in cumbersome Sumo wrestling suits gathered at London’s Battersea Park to participate in the second annual Sumo Suit Athletics World Championships. The silly sports event included five disciplines, including the high jump and 100m sprint.

Take a look:

Think you’re a good candidate for Sumo Sports? Stage your own silly sports event and invite your friends and family or make it an activity at your school or church event. Hey, why not consider this wacky costume event for your family reunion, pitting family against family for a gag trophy and maybe some movie tickets? There’s no telling what kind of fun you can have when you throw costumes into the mix!

Inflatable Sumo Wrestler Costume

Child Inflatable Sumo Costume

Adult Funny Sumo Wrestler