Nashvillians show off Halloween costume creativity at All Hallows East

Cassandra Stephenson, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read

What do a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a strongman and Nashville's iconic Batman Building have in common?

They all showed up and showed off their Halloween finery at Saturday’s All Hallows East festival in Five Points.

Hundreds of Halloweekenders flooded 11th Avenue South. Ms. Frizzle posed for a picture with Alvin the Chipmunk, and a Slenderman on stilts watched as a Guy Fieri lookalike welcomed passersby to “Fiver Town.”

The Sharkey family was at a stalemate for weeks: Should they go as the Ghostbusters or a collection of characters from classic '80s slasher films? It’s serious business — they have a family tradition to uphold.

After much deliberation, they landed on a circus theme with dad Nathan as a bearded lady, mom Connie as the ringmaster and son Keane as a strongman. Teaghan, their daughter, dressed as a clown alongside friend Lyla Strauss.

The “girl power” elements of the 2023 movie "Peter Pan and Wendy" inspired the Tice family’s costumes.

Amanda Tice donned a crocodile suit complete with a clock and Judah Tice was an unmistakable Captain Hook. Their children followed suit: Hazel as Wendy, Takoda as Peter Pan and Tallulah as Tinker Bell.

“We just got really into it this past year,” Amanda said.

Children pass by Nate Moran's homemade Batman Building costume at All Hallows East in Nashville, Tenn. on Oct. 28, 2023.
Children pass by Nate Moran's homemade Batman Building costume at All Hallows East in Nashville, Tenn. on Oct. 28, 2023.

Nate Moran takes a different approach to costuming.

“My goal for Halloween is not to be someone. It’s to be something,” he said.

This year that something is one of Nashville’s most recognizable landmarks: the Batman Building.

The idea has been sitting in the notes app on Moran’s phone for the past five years, he said. It took him two weeks to bring it to life with poster paper, cardboard and tape.

He even spent a day off of work pulling it all together — after all, he had a title to defend. Last year, he won for his rendition of a Miller Lite Beer Tap.

Moran joined the winner's circle again this year alongside the twins from "The Shining" and a family dressed as Bob, Linda and Gene Belcher of "Bob's Burgers."

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashvillians show off Halloween costume creativity at All Hallows East