Halloween is just around the corner in 2024 and with it comes deciding on the perfect costume. Choosing a fun and creative outfit is a huge part of the Halloween experience. But with so many styles and pop culture influences to pull from, it can be tough to land on an idea that feels fresh and timely.

To help inspire your 2024 Halloween costume planning, we've analyzed current trends and pop culture moments that are likely to have widespread influence over costume choices next Halloween. From shows, movies, fashion, and viral moments, here are some of the top trending costume ideas for Halloween 2024 plus tips on where to find them on sale.

Top Trending Costume Ideas for Halloween 2024:

• Euphoria Character Costumes: HBO's wild drama Euphoria has gotten massive amounts of buzz since its season 2 premiere in early 2022. Bold makeup looks combined with edgy streetwear styles from the show are sure to be inspiring Euphoria-inspired costumes next Halloween. Rue, Jules, Cassie, Maddy and Nate are all characters that would translate easily into popular costume ideas. You can find affordable Euphoria costume pieces and accessories sold on sites like Etsy and Amazon.

• Stranger Things Character Costumes: The highly anticipated season 5 of Stranger Things will premiere in early 2024, keeping the show's influence at an all-time high next Halloween. Fan favorites like Eleven, Steve, Max, Dustin, and Eddie Munson are obvious costume choices inspired by the 80s sci-fi/horror smash hit. Retro dress stores like modcloth.com often sell inexpensive wigs, shirts and pants reminiscent of the show's styles.

• Avengers and Marvel Heroes/Villains: With numerous Marvel movies and shows still debuting leading up to 2024, superhero costumes will likely remain a perennial favorite for both kids and adults. Popular choices will include iterations of Spiderman, Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, Doctor Strange, Wanda, Loki and more. Large retailers like Target and Walmart typically have large Halloween sections with many Marvel costumes and accessories on discount next October.

• Coachella/Music Festival Costumes: 2023 marked the return of massive in-person music festivals like Coachella after pandemic hiatuses. Festival fashion and styles became a viral trend on social media. In 2024, costumes recreating neon festival looks with flower crowns, hoop earrings and bohemian pieces can be found for bargain prices on sites like Etsy, Amazon and ASOS.

• TikTok/Viral Dance Costumes: Online dance and performance trends that spread rapidly on TikTok often make their way to the Halloween costume scene the following year. Potential trends in 2024 could pay homage to dance challenges set to hits like "About Damn Time" by Lizzo or "ABCDEFU" by Gayle. Crop tops, biker shorts, and sunglasses may translate choreography looks into simple costumes.

• Royalty and Historical Figure Costumes: Stylized historical and royal outfits see increased interest around costume party seasons. Inspired by shows and movies like The Crown, House of the Dragon, Bridgerton and more, regal gowns, crowns, robes, and armor representing queens, kings and noble figures tend to do well. Thrift stores and online vintage retailers offer royal costume pieces for low prices year-round.

Where to Find Top Halloween Costumes on Sale

Now that you have some inspiration for your Halloween 2024 costume theme, the next step is tracking down all the pieces you need at a bargain. Here are some of the best places to shop for costumes and accessories on deep discounts as Halloween approaches:

• Party City: Party City gets serious about clearing out stock the closer it gets to October 31st each year. Their massive Halloween sections are up to 70% off weeks leading up to the big day. You can find full costumes, accessories, makeup, and more marked down significantly.

• Walmart: Walmart employs a similar roll-back strategy on Halloween gear, getting costumes and decor under $10 each leading up to the holiday. Check online and in-stores for rollbacks beginning in mid-September, or you can find out best Walmart discount codes and promotion through coupon websites.

• Target: As early as August, Target begins slashing Halloween merchandise prices, especially for costumes. Keep an eye out for clearance events taking up to 50% off full costumes in both adult and kids' sizes.

• Amazon: Sort Halloween costumes on Amazon by "Price: Low to High" starting in late September for great deals under $25 on last season's styles. Many third-party sellers start slashing overstock at this time too.

• Thrift Stores: As Halloween nears, thrift stores like Goodwill receive plenty of previously worn costumes donated after parties. Rummage through these stores in late October for one-of-a-kind vintage pieces at rock-bottom prices.

• Costume Rental Shops: Rental shops may offer fire-sale deals on gently used costumes they can no longer rent out after the 31st. Check local shops' clearance sections in November for huge markdowns.

• CouponXoo: CouponXoo tracks coupons and promo codes from retailers for Halloween costumes and accessories. Be sure to check their site in September/October for the latest costume discounts and coupon codes.

• Online Resale Sites: Poshmark, Mercari, and eBay provide a venue for used costumes to resell at a fraction of their original cost once the season ends. Set up notifications to grab steals on still-trendy outfits.

So in summary - keep your 2024 Halloween costume shopping to Target, Walmart, Party City, Amazon starting in late August/early September for killer sales. Then hit up thrift stores and online resale sites post-Halloween for costumes people are itching to get rid of for pennies on the dollar. With these sales hunting tips and top trend forecast, you're sure to find an affordable, on-trend costume idea that makes your 2024 Halloween a standout success. Happy hunting and happy haunting!