6 last-minute tips for Halloween

Whether you need a costume or are looking for something to do, here are some tips and reminders for Halloween. 

1. Visit thrift stores for last-minute costume needs 

If you need a costume for Halloween, check out some of the best thrift shops in Boulder to complete your look. Thrift stores and second-hand shops are great for scoring unique costume finds and saving money. Plus, some of these locations have special sales and deals where you can get items even cheaper.  

As you consider different costume ideas, be mindful of your choices. Cultural appropriation—the inappropriate use of ideas, symbols or stereotypes pertaining to another culture—is a common offense among Halloween costumes. These types of costumes are offensive because they often reduce cultures and communities to caricatures. Acknowledging and being mindful of cultural appropriation can help us create a more welcoming and inclusive community for all Buffs. 

3. Get home safely with CU NightRide 

Whatever you choose to do for the holiday, make a plan for how to get home safely. CU NightRide provides free, late-night transportation for CU Boulder students, faculty and staff within Boulder city limits. Download the CU NightRide app from the App Store or Google Play to request a ride when you need it.  

If you’re outside the Boulder city limits and CU NightRide isn’t an option, consider public transportation or other rideshare services. To get around the Boulder and Denver areas, your Buff OneCard gives you access to all RTD bus and rail routes. The Transit app makes it easy to track the locations of RTD buses (including the HOP) in real-time. Download Transit on Google Play or the Apple Store.  

4. Avoid getting a ticket 

Remember that you’re a Buff wherever you are. Be considerate and respectful to those around you, whether you're on or off campus.   

If you plan to host a gathering, lower your chances of receiving a ticket by registering your party with Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations. Registering your party will give you a 20-minute warning to shut things down before police are dispatched if a noise complaint has been made against your address.   

If you do receive a ticket, Student Legal Services can help navigate the next steps. Contact them at 303-492-6813 or visit their office at UMC 311. 

5. Stay safe at parties 

If you choose to use alcohol or other substances, here are some things to know:  

• Nail down your plans before you go out. Make sure everyone is on the same page about where you plan to go and how long you plan to stay out. 
• Set a limit around alcohol and other drugs. Enlist your friends to keep you accountable and let you know when you’ve had too much. 
• Make sure everyone gets home safely and avoid ditching anyone in your group. If you get separated, be sure to check in with each other and regroup. 
• Eat before drinking and continue eating snacks and drinking water throughout the night. 
• Know how much one serving of alcohol is: 1.5 ounces of hard liquor, 5 ounces of wine or 12 ounces of beer. 
• Avoid mixing alcohol with prescription or illicit drugs. This can increase your chances of experiencing an accidental overdose.  
• Know the signs of alcohol poisoning and how to put someone in the Recovery Position. 
• Learn where you can pick up free and discounted naloxone to temporarily reverse the effects of opioid-related overdoses.  
• Pick up free fentanyl test strips at Health Promotion on the third floor of Wardenburg. 

Check out more tips on how to party smart safely.   

6. Look out for yourself and each other 

We can all do our part to look out for fellow Buffs on and off campus.  

• Keep an eye out for individuals who pressure others to drink or use substances, isolate someone who has had too much to drink, don’t tell someone what is in their drink or substance and those who touch others without consent. 
• If something feels wrong, it probably is. Remember that it’s okay to make up an excuse to get out of a situation that makes you feel uncomfortable. 
• If you’re concerned about your safety or someone else's, keep an eye on the situation and don’t hesitate to call for help. Always call 911 in a drug- or alcohol-related emergency. 
• Review the Amnesty Policy and Good Samaritan Law to learn more about what to do if you need to call for help in an alcohol- or drug-related emergency. 
• Review more information about how you can be an effective bystander and look out for other members of our community.