What’s the top costume trending in Richmond, VA this year? What could possibly sum up the spirit of Richmond, according to Google’s Frightgeist? Well, apparently, it’s Oscar the Grouch. Are we surprised?
In a year where so much change is happening in the city—new mayor, new city council, new school board—and with all the traffic headaches, tragic hit-and-runs, the endless debate over the Diamond District, the gentrification/influencer thing, the Richmond Gunhole drama, and the constant protesting and response, not to mention the ever-present arguments about who has the best BBQ and pizza—there’s a lot to be ‘grouchy’ about.

But that’s the thing. Sure, we gripe, but we also care. We care about our city, our neighborhoods, and each other. And sometimes that means being just a little grouchy, a little pissed off about it. There’s something endearing about that kind of attitude—it’s refreshingly honest, a little rough around the edges.
After Oscar, other trending costumes in Richmond include Stitch from Lilo & Stitch—because Richmond is weird and cuddly soft like that. Then there’s Raygun, the Australian breakdancer who went viral worldwide. And let’s not forget the sweet nostalgia of Strawberry Shortcake, which suggests that, maybe it’s just old folks are searching for costumes?
Nationwide, costumes like “Shrunken Head Bob” from Beetlejuice are trending, along with more Raygun, pop stars, and Marvel heroes. But apparently here in Richmond, we’re sticking to what we know: a good, solid grouch.

But hey, Charlottesville’s top costume this year is “Hooters.” Honestly, that says it all about that area, doesn’t it?
ABOUT FRIGHTGEIST
CONJURE TOP TRENDING COSTUMES THIS YEAR
Every October, searches for costumes spike on Google, and Google Trends offers a unique peek into how everyone’s getting ready for Halloween. With Frightgeist, the Google Trends Data Team has analyzed the top-trending costumes for 2024 across the U.S. and locally in all U.S. designated market areas (DMAs). Head over to the ‘Trending Costumes’ page to check out trending costumes, party themes, decor, and more, while the ‘Costume Map’ gives you a glimpse of what’s hot in your region.
METHODOLOGY
- Trending lists are calculated based on year-over-year comparisons of search interest from September 2024 to September 2023 in the United States.
- Insights from Trending Costumes are all based on U.S. data unless otherwise noted.



