Dinosaurs are one of the few themes where a toddler, a teenager and a grandparent all get a part they actually want. The grown-ups take the khaki roles, the paleontologists, rangers and park staff, while the kids get the tails. When I put a family like this together, I build it from two piles: plain fieldwear you can thrift or pull from the closet, and soft hooded dinosaur suits for whoever is small enough to want one. Babies and even a patient dog can join as hatchlings or gentle plant eaters, and a wagon or stroller can turn into a jeep or an enclosure. Below are 35 ways to cast the family, from a simple trio to a full park crew, with notes on what holds up over a long evening of walking.
Dinosaur Suits a Small Child Will Keep On
Before anyone picks a character, I check the suits the kids will wear, because a child who hates their costume by the second house takes the whole family home with them. Most of the looks below rely on hooded dinosaur jumpsuits, and they fail in predictable ways.
- Hood and eyes: the snout should sit on the forehead, not over the brow. If a hood slips forward, a small elastic strap under the chin or a stitch to tighten the back usually fixes it.
- Tail length: a tail that drags gets stepped on by siblings and catches on stairs. I hem it or pin it up so it clears the ground by a few inches.
- Feet: foot covers over sneakers slide and trip. Cut them so the sole of the shoe touches the ground, or skip them and buy sneakers in a matching color.
- Layers: fleece suits are warm, which is lovely in October and miserable in a heated party. A thin cotton tee and leggings underneath let a child unzip without being in pajamas.
- Visibility: green, brown and gray all vanish at dusk. A strip of reflective tape down the tail or on the back of the hood is easy to add and easy to remove later.
Have each child wear the suit around the house for half an hour the week before. Itchy seams, hot hoods and tails that hit the floor all show up then, while there's still time to fix them.
1. Jurassic Park Alan Grant Ellie Sattler And T. Rex Family Costume
This is the trio I'd point most families toward first: two paleontologists and one small T. rex. Alan Grant is a blue denim shirt, khaki pants, a red bandana, a brown fedora and boots, with his hair left as it is and a toy fossil or map in hand. Ellie Sattler wears a coral button-down over a blue tank, khaki shorts, ankle socks and hiking boots, with a loose blond ponytail and barely any makeup. The child goes in a padded green or brown T. rex jumpsuit with hood, tail and soft claws, sneakers tucked under the feet. Nothing here is hot or stiff, so nobody asks to go home early.
2. Jurassic Park John Hammond Alan Grant And Baby Dinosaur Costume
Three generations fit neatly into this one: a white-haired park founder, a dusty paleontologist and a hatchling. John Hammond is all white, button-down and trousers, with a straw Panama-style hat, round glasses, white facial hair and neutral walking shoes. His amber-topped cane should be lightweight cardboard; a real wooden cane gets swung around by small hands within minutes. Alan Grant brings the contrast in denim, khaki, a red neckerchief, brown hat and hiking boots. The youngest wears a soft dinosaur romper with padded tail, hood and nonslip booties, plus a little green face paint on the cheeks. A cracked-egg cover on the stroller frames the baby without boxing them in, and more dino siblings slot in easily.
3. Jurassic Park Ian Malcolm Ellie Sattler And Raptor Family Costume
If your family likes the cooler, drier characters, give one adult Ian Malcolm: black button-down, black trousers, a leather-look belt, tinted glasses, black boots and hair gelled straight back, with a little smudged makeup for a rough-day look. Ellie Sattler balances him with color in her blue tank, coral shirt, khaki shorts, blond ponytail and hiking boots. The child is a raptor in a gray-green hooded jumpsuit with a long tail, textured scale fabric, soft claw gloves and matching sneakers. I hand Ellie a laminated park map and Malcolm a toy flashlight with no batteries, because a real torch shining in faces gets old fast. All that black next to bright fieldwear reads clearly in photos.
4. Jurassic World Owen Claire Blue And Baby Dinosaur Family Costume
For a family of four who know the newer films, mix park staff with two dinosaur sizes. Owen Grady wears an olive utility vest over a blue chambray shirt, fitted cargo pants, a brown belt and lace-up boots, hair short and tousled. Claire Dearing needs a white blouse, a belted khaki skirt or practical tan pants, an auburn ponytail, neutral makeup and block-heel ankle boots or flats. Be honest about the walking: if the route is long, I'd pick the flats. One child becomes Blue in a gray raptor jumpsuit with a bright blue side stripe, hood, tail, gloves and sneakers, and the youngest is a pale green baby dinosaur with a soft belly panel and booties. Park badges, a toy radio and cardboard tracking devices are light enough for kids to carry themselves.
5. Jurassic Park Ranger And Dinosaur Kids Family Costume
When several kids all want to be dinosaurs, the adults become the people in charge of the park. Both parents wear tan utility shirts, olive cargo pants or shorts, canvas belts, ranger patches and brown hiking boots, with neutral caps and toy radios clipped to the belt rather than hanging on cords. Give each child a different species, a green T. rex, a gray raptor and a rust-colored triceratops, so neighbors can tell them apart in the dark. Their hooded suits need tails, soft claws, a proper base layer and sneakers. A dog can wear a lightweight dino hoodie, but only if it already tolerates clothes. Matching visitor badges and a cardboard park sign tie it together with no sewing at all.
6. Jurassic Park Scientist And Hatching Dinosaur Family Costume
A lab team welcoming new arrivals is a cheerful take that suits kids who don't like scary things. Adults wear white lab coats over pale blue or gray shirts, khaki pants, clear protective-style glasses and clean white sneakers, hair tied back. Park patches can be printed on fabric sheets or cut from colored felt; I glue felt on with fabric glue rather than hot glue, which peels off a lab coat in the first hour. The children are hatching dinosaurs in green, orange or blue jumpsuits with padded tails and claw mittens, wearing white craft-foam eggshell panels around the waist on flexible elastic. A baby rides in a stroller dressed as a nest. Clipboards, specimen labels and clear containers stuffed with shredded green paper finish the lab.
7. Jurassic Park Tour Guide And Jeep Kids Family Costume
Here the adults are tour guides and the kids are park visitors riding in a homemade vehicle. Guides wear khaki shirts, shorts or cargo pants, red bandanas, logo-style patches and trail shoes, with name badges and maps. The kids get colorful 1990s-style shirts, denim shorts, caps, socks and sneakers. A cardboard jeep shell fits around a wagon, stroller, wheelchair or a walking child on wide shoulder straps; narrow straps dig in by the third street. Paint it green and tan with black wheels and a simple tour emblem, then add a cardboard steering wheel and toy binoculars. I suggest this one most for little ones who tire halfway through trick-or-treating and need somewhere to sit.
8. Jurassic Park Veterinarian And Triceratops Family Costume
A gentle triceratops makes this one sweet rather than scary. One adult is Ellie Sattler in a coral shirt, blue tank, khaki shorts, blond ponytail and hiking boots. The other is a park vet in green coveralls, a tan utility vest, rubber-look boots and tied-back hair, carrying a toy stethoscope and a soft bag with nothing heavy inside. The kids are triceratops in brown, gray or muted green hooded suits with fabric frills, three soft horns, padded tails and sneakers. Felt horns stuffed with fiberfill stay floppy enough that a hug never hurts. Add green or brown face paint around the eyes only if the child likes makeup, and give them a foam leaf garland to carry, which also reminds everyone they eat plants.
9. Jurassic Park Dennis Nedry And Dilophosaurus Family Costume
Families who love the funnier moments can pair a bright raincoat with a colorful dinosaur. Dennis Nedry wears a yellow waterproof jacket over a patterned shirt, dark pants, glasses and weatherproof boots, hair a bit messy, with a park badge and a shaving-cream-style can made from a wrapped cardboard tube. That raincoat is a gift if it drizzles. Another adult can be a park technician in gray coveralls, a utility belt, sneakers and a headset with no loose cord. The child is the Dilophosaurus in a green jumpsuit with a fan-shaped red-and-yellow fabric frill, padded tail, soft claws and green sneakers, painted in bright colors rather than anything gory. Extra kids can be smaller dinosaurs or raincoat-wearing park assistants.
10. Jurassic Park Alan Grant Tim And Lex Family Costume
Most of this explorer group comes straight from home closets. Alan Grant is the usual denim shirt, khaki pants, red bandana, brown hat, tousled hair and trail boots. Tim wears a striped or plaid shirt, khaki shorts, crew socks, sneakers and a light backpack with a toy dinosaur guide. Lex needs a purple or pink casual top, denim shorts or relaxed pants, sneakers and blond hair loose or in a ponytail. I keep the makeup to a few washable dirt smudges. Carry a folded map, toy binoculars and a battery lantern. Honestly, the human characters alone can puzzle some neighbors, so I like adding a fourth person in a soft raptor or T. rex suit to make the theme obvious.
11. Jurassic Park John Hammond Grandchildren And T. Rex Costume
This one centers on a single big dinosaur and lets everyone else wear ordinary clothes. John Hammond is in white linen-look clothes, round glasses, a straw hat, white facial hair and light walking shoes. Lex wears a purple shirt, casual shorts, blond ponytail, backpack and sneakers, and Tim a plaid shirt, khaki shorts, cap, socks and trainers. An adult or older teen is the T. rex in an inflatable or padded brown suit with sneakers visible underneath for stability. Skip makeup on whoever wears the inflatable; it smears onto the inside of the hood and gets hot. Visitor passes, a toy map and an amber-style cane fill in the rest, and the cost stays low because only one costume is bought.
12. Jurassic Park Muldoon Ellie Sattler And Raptor Costume
A field team in practical safari clothes and one clever raptor. Robert Muldoon wears a tan safari shirt, matching shorts, long socks, brown boots and a wide-brim hat, with a neat beard drawn on in washable makeup, a park patch and toy binoculars. I leave out anything that looks like a weapon; plenty of schools and venues won't allow it, and it isn't needed. Ellie Sattler wears her coral overshirt, blue tank, khaki shorts, blond ponytail and hiking boots. The child is a raptor in a brown-green hooded jumpsuit with a long tail, claw gloves and textured shoe covers, with light scale makeup on the forehead and cheeks. A younger sibling can be a hatchling, and a cardboard "raptor observation" sign keeps the group easy to read.
13. Jurassic Park Ian Malcolm Sarah Harding And Baby T. Rex Costume
Earthy colors tie this outdoorsy group together without matching outfits. Ian Malcolm wears a black shirt, black jeans, tinted glasses, swept-back dark hair and leather-look boots. Sarah Harding needs an olive tank or field shirt, tan cargo pants, a utility vest, natural wavy hair and trail shoes. One child is a baby T. rex in a brown hooded jumpsuit with a lighter belly, short padded arms, a soft tail and hidden sneakers, and a second child is Kelly in an athletic top, relaxed cargo pants, braided hair and trainers. A canvas satchel, toy camera, binoculars and field notebooks are all things kids can genuinely carry for hours.
14. Jurassic Park Paleontologist Dig Site Family Costume
A whole family of paleontologists at a dig site is one of the easiest looks to assemble from what's already in drawers. Adults mix denim shirts, tan utility vests, khaki cargo pants, bandanas, sun hats and hiking boots, and children wear smaller versions with breathable shirts, shorts, canvas belts and sneakers. A little brown eyeshadow patted on cheeks and knees reads as dust. Foam brushes, plastic magnifying glasses and cardboard fossil pieces go in small canvas bags. The youngest child or baby becomes the find in a soft dinosaur suit with hood, tail and booties. If you decorate a wagon as a sandy dig with tan fabric and oversized foam bones, tie every piece down; loose bones end up in someone's yard.
15. Jurassic Park Dinosaur Rescue Team Family Costume
A rescue team gives the grown-ups matching clothes and the kids bright suits. Parents and older siblings wear olive coveralls or cargo pants with gray T-shirts, utility vests, rescue patches, caps and supportive boots, hair back and a few washable dust marks. Toy radios, soft rope loops worn only as belt decoration and cardboard dinosaur-care kits make the job clear. I keep any rope short and fixed to the belt so nobody can loop it around a sibling. The younger children are the rescued dinosaurs, a blue-gray raptor, a green T. rex and a tan triceratops, each with hood, padded tail, claws and sneakers. A baby can ride in a stroller turned leafy habitat, and a simple "Dinosaur Rescue" sign helps the theme read from across the street.
16. Jurassic Park Wheelchair Jeep Family Costume
An adaptive jeep can make a wheelchair part of the adventure instead of something to hide. Build a lightweight green-and-tan shell from corrugated cardboard and attach it only where the chair's user and their family say is safe, never over wheels, controls or the user's line of sight. The rider wears a park visitor outfit: a bright shirt, khaki pants, cap and comfortable shoes. Everyone else becomes Alan Grant, Ellie Sattler, a ranger and a soft-suited dinosaur in their full denim, coral, khaki and reptile looks. Add a cardboard dashboard, bendy side mirrors and a toy map, leaving generous space around the chair. I always ask families to do a test run indoors before the night, through doorways and up any ramps.
17. Jurassic Park Stroller Electric Fence Family Costume
A stroller makes a fun dinosaur enclosure as long as the decorations stay outside the baby's space. The baby wears a soft green or brown dinosaur romper with hood, padded tail, a few cheek scales and warm booties. Wrap the stroller frame in black fabric with lightweight foam or PVC-look bars set well away from little hands. The adults are Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler in denim, khaki and coral with hiking boots, and an older sibling is another dinosaur in a hooded jumpsuit and sneakers. Yellow tape makes the caution stripes and a printed emblem does the rest. No dangling cords and nothing hard near the canopy: babies grab whatever they can reach, and a tired one will chew it.
18. Jurassic Park Dinosaur Transport Wagon Family Costume
A transport wagon carries the youngest kids who can't walk all evening. Cover the sides with lightweight gray cardboard panels, black foam bars and yellow caution stripes, but leave real gaps for air and keep every rider in an adult's view. Children inside wear full raptor and baby T. rex suits with hoods, padded tails, face-safe makeup and sneakers. Adults are transport staff in gray coveralls, utility vests, caps, park badges and work boots, carrying clipboards and toy radios, and an older child can be a ranger in a tan shirt and olive cargo pants. Cardboard panels go soft in damp air, so I seal them with a coat of clear packing tape on the outside if rain is possible.
19. Jurassic Park Inflatable Dinosaur Herd Family Costume
Inflatable suits give a herd big presence with almost no crafting. Pick different ones so each adult or older child is identifiable: a brown T. rex, a gray raptor, a green triceratops, a tan pteranodon. Underneath, wear a breathable shirt, fitted pants and supportive sneakers, tie long hair back, and skip makeup because it transfers inside the hood. One or two family members can be rangers in tan button-downs, cargo shorts, hats, patches and hiking boots with binoculars, maps and toy radios. Inflatables run on a small fan and battery pack, so pack spare batteries, and check that each wearer can see, walk and handle stairs before you leave. Small kids who find them overwhelming can wear soft hooded suits in the same colors.
20. Jurassic Park T. Rex Family Costume
Why stop at one T. rex? Put the whole family in coordinated hooded jumpsuits in forest green, reddish brown, tan and charcoal, each with a lighter belly, rounded fabric teeth, short padded arms, a long tail and roomy shoe covers. Adults can wear structured or inflatable suits while children and babies wear softer fleece. Tuck hair under the hoods and paint simple scales around the eyes in each suit's color. One thing I watch on matching herds is tail length: put four long tails together on a doorstep and someone gets tripped, so I shorten the children's tails to just off the ground. Pose by a foam park-gate sign or a wagon dressed as an enclosure. Different sizes and shades keep each person identifiable.
21. Jurassic Park Raptor Pack Family Costume
A raptor pack is sleek and easy to personalize. Each person wears a gray, brown, olive or blue hooded jumpsuit with a narrow snout, long tail, soft claws and sturdy sneakers, plus stripes painted down the sides in fabric paint so no two raptors match. One child can be Blue in gray with a bold blue stripe while siblings take green or rust markings. Keep scale makeup to the forehead and cheekbones and leave the mouth clear so candy doesn't end up painted. An adult who'd rather wear normal clothes becomes the trainer in a utility vest, chambray shirt, cargo pants and boots. Park badges, a toy clicker and cardboard tracking tags round it off; let the paint dry overnight before anyone sits in it.
22. Jurassic Park Herbivore Herd Family Costume
I suggest a plant-eater herd to families with kids who startle easily, because nothing here has teeth. Split the family among triceratops, stegosaurus, brachiosaurus and ankylosaurus in soft green, dusty blue, tan and rust, with species-specific hoods, padded tails, fabric plates and rounded horns. Adults wear larger onesies and babies fleece rompers with nonslip booties. Hair goes under the hood or in low braids, with a little leaf-green face paint on the cheeks. Make sure sneakers fit securely inside or under the costume feet; floppy foot covers are what catch on curbs. Carry artificial fern leaves, foam branches or canvas "snack" bags of green tissue paper, and one person can be the park botanist in khakis, a field vest, sun hat and hiking shoes.
23. Jurassic Park Triceratops Family Costume
Matching triceratops make a sweet family portrait. Use hooded suits with large fabric frills, three soft horns, rounded snouts, padded tails and textured belly panels. Parents might wear olive and brown, the kids orange or blue, and the baby a pale green romper. Leggings or a breathable base layer go underneath, with secure sneakers or booties. Big frills flop forward on a hood, so I tack a strip of interfacing or a couple of stitches to the back of the hood to hold them upright. Long hair in low braids lets the hood sit smoothly, and water-based paint blends scales across the forehead and nose. Anyone who skips the suit can be the vet in green coveralls, a tan vest and trail shoes, and a foam "Triceratops Habitat" sign finishes the scene.
24. Jurassic Park Dilophosaurus Family Costume
The bright neck frill is what makes a Dilophosaurus read. Build each look on a green, teal or brown hooded jumpsuit with a long tail, light belly panel, soft claws and matching sneakers, then attach a collapsible fabric frill at the shoulders in red, yellow, coral and orange. I make frills from felt with snaps so they come off for car rides and doorways, and I keep them narrow enough that a child can still see to the side. Face paint dots along the temples are plenty; there's no need for anything frightening. Adults can wear suits too, or one can be Dennis Nedry in a yellow rain jacket, patterned shirt, glasses, dark pants and waterproof boots, with a cardboard canister and park badge. Younger kids can wear small detachable frills over plain green sweats.
25. Jurassic Park Pteranodon Nest Family Costume
Wings take the family into the sky, but wingspan is the thing to plan around. Adults and older kids wear brown, gray or rust jumpsuits with long fabric wings running from the wrists to the sides, pointed hoods, light belly panels, simple eye makeup and brown sneakers. I cut wings shorter than people expect, roughly to the fingertips when the arms hang down, so they clear doorways and crowded sidewalks. The baby is a hatchling in a soft romper with tiny wings, a padded beak hood and warm booties, in a stroller nest of securely attached kraft paper, tan fabric and oversized foam eggs. Another adult can be the aviary keeper in olive cargo pants, a tan vest, sun hat and hiking boots, carrying a toy field notebook.
26. Jurassic Park Ankylosaurus Family Costume
Padded armor and wide tails give an ankylosaurus family a recognizable shape that isn't frightening at all. Start with green, brown or muted blue sweatsuits and sew or glue soft foam-backed fabric plates along the back. Thin upholstery foam stays flexible when a child sits down; stiff craft foam cracks along the fold. Add matching hoods with gentle scale texture, broad padded tails, mitten claws and comfortable sneakers. Babies can wear a one-piece romper with small quilted plates and nonslip booties. Hair stays flat in braids or a low bun under the hood. One adult can be a researcher in a beige field shirt, olive pants, canvas vest and hiking boots, with a clipboard of dinosaur sketches and a measuring tape.
27. Jurassic Park Brachiosaurus And Explorer Family Costume
A brachiosaurus is gentle and tall, and it sits well next to classic explorer clothes. Dress one or more children in green or dusty blue jumpsuits with a long padded neck rising from the hood, a rounded tail, small fabric spots and secure sneakers. The neck has to stay light: stuffed with fiberfill it's fine, but anything heavier pulls the hood back and over the child's eyes. Adults are explorers in tan utility shirts, khaki shorts or cargo pants, sun hats, bandanas and hiking boots, with binoculars, park maps and canvas backpacks. A baby can wear a miniature long-neck romper with soft booties. Fern garlands tied to a wagon make a leafy feeding area that links the dinosaurs to the people.
28. Jurassic Park Stegosaurus And Park Keeper Family Costume
Rows of plates make a stegosaurus fun from every side. Children wear green, brown or blue hooded jumpsuits with padded tails and fabric plates running from the head down the back. I use flexible felt plates in orange, yellow or rust, doubled and stitched along the base, so they stand up but fold when a child leans back in a seat. Subtle cheek scales, a base layer and supportive sneakers finish each dinosaur. Adults are park keepers in olive coveralls, tan vests, caps and brown trail boots with toy radios and ID badges on their belts. A baby stegosaurus wears a fleece romper with small quilted plates and booties. Foam leaves or a lightweight habitat sign beat big props, and the formula stretches to any number of siblings.
29. Jurassic Park Compy Kids And Researcher Family Costume
Compys suit siblings who'd rather run than waddle. The kids wear green or brown leggings with matching long-sleeve shirts, sneaker covers and slim fabric tails fixed securely at the waist; a tail sewn to a belt loop stays put far better than one pinned. Add soft claw gloves and close-fitting hoods with small rounded teeth, a few tiny scales painted around the eyes, and long hair in low braids under the hood. Parents become field researchers in khaki shirts, cargo pants, canvas vests, sun hats and hiking shoes, carrying notebooks, toy cameras and specimen boxes of artificial leaves. A baby can be another Compy in a soft green romper. Because these are separates rather than bulky suits, an active kid can sprint between houses in them.
30. Jurassic Park Baby Dinosaur Egg Family Costume
Put the baby at the center by turning the stroller into a cracked egg. Dress them in a mint, green or pale blue dinosaur romper with a soft hood, tiny tail, a dab of cheek-scale makeup and warm booties. Curved white craft-foam eggshell pieces go around the seat, with the harness, airflow and sightlines left completely clear; I attach them to the frame with Velcro straps so they come off in seconds. Parents are Ellie Sattler and Alan Grant in coral, blue, denim and khaki with hats and hiking boots, and older siblings become nest guardians in raptor or triceratops suits with hoods, tails, gloves and sneakers. Artificial greenery and a cardboard nest sign around the base finish it.
31. Jurassic Park Staff Family Costume
A big family that doesn't want bulky suits can go as park staff. Give everyone a department: ranger, scientist, vet, tour guide, control-room tech, animal care. Tan shirts, olive trousers, gray coveralls, white lab coats, utility vests and boots or sneakers mostly come from closets. Matching park patches, name badges and caps are what make it read as one team, so I'd spend the effort there and keep the uniform colors consistent even when the garments differ. Props are maps, clipboards, toy radios, clear safety glasses and light field cases. Put the youngest child or the pet in a small dinosaur suit so the theme is obvious. It's a good pick for a warm night, and every piece gets worn again.
32. Jurassic Park Control Room Crew And Escaped Dinosaur Costume
The control room becomes a wearable scene here. Adults and older kids wear gray button-downs, dark slacks, staff badges, headsets with no loose wires and black sneakers, plus glasses where they fit the character and cardboard tablets with drawn-on buttons. One adult can be John Hammond in white clothing, a straw hat, round glasses, white facial hair and walking shoes. Younger kids are escaped dinosaurs in green or brown hooded jumpsuits with tails, soft claws, face scales and sneakers, carrying light warning signs. For a photo, line the staff up behind a wagon dressed as a control console with cardboard computer panels while the dinosaurs pose in front. Keep every electronic detail decorative and battery-free; it's one less thing to break.
33. Jurassic Park Visitor Center Family Costume
A visitor center gives every relative a different job inside one palette. John Hammond wears white trousers, a white shirt, straw hat, glasses, white facial hair and light shoes. Two adults are Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler in denim, coral, blue and khaki with hiking boots. The kids are excited guests in 1990s-style shirts, shorts, caps, backpacks and sneakers, and one is a soft T. rex or raptor with hood, tail, scale makeup and hidden trainers. Brochures, cardboard admission passes, toy binoculars and a foam fossil display fill the hands, and a wagon becomes the information desk with lightweight panels. I'd reach for this one when grandparents want a clear role that doesn't involve a hood.
34. Jurassic Park 1990s Tour Group Family Costume
Lean into the early-1990s feel of the original film with colorful casual clothes and safari touches. Adults wear tucked polo shirts, pleated khakis, windbreakers, canvas belts, crew socks and walking sneakers, and kids wear striped tees, denim shorts, bright caps, mini backpacks and high-tops. Simple side parts, loose waves or a bit of volume nod to the era, with natural makeup. The tucked-in polo and high-waisted khaki are what really sell the decade, more than any accessory. Add visitor badges, folded maps, toy cameras and binoculars, plus one adult ranger in tan and one child dinosaur in a green hooded jumpsuit. Thrift racks are full of these pieces in autumn.
35. Easy Last-Minute Jurassic Park Family Costume
Out of time? Build it all from closet basics and paper. One adult is Alan Grant in a denim shirt, tan pants, a bandana, a borrowed hat and brown boots, and another is Ellie Sattler in a coral shirt over a blue tank, khaki bottoms, a ponytail and hiking shoes. The kids wear green sweat sets with felt triangles stuck down the back, stuffed fabric tails, paper claw cuffs and sneakers, plus washable cheek scales and a dinosaur headband if a hood is too much work. For felt triangles at the last minute, I use safety pins on the inside rather than glue, since glue on sweatshirt fleece rarely holds. Draw park badges, maps and ranger patches on cardstock. Consistent colors carry it.
Thrifting Grant, Sattler and Hammond for Very Little
The human characters are almost entirely secondhand finds, and that's where a family can save the money for the dinosaur suits. Here's what I look for on the racks.
- Alan Grant: a faded mid-blue denim shirt reads better than a crisp dark one. Any red bandana works, and a brown or tan felt fedora does more than everything else combined.
- Ellie Sattler: a pink or coral cotton shirt to knot or wear open over a blue tank, plus khaki shorts. Roll the sleeves; that small detail is part of the character.
- John Hammond: a white or cream shirt and trousers, which don't need to match exactly, and a straw hat. Round wire glasses can be cheap reading frames with the lenses popped out.
- Ian Malcolm: all black. A black shirt worn open at the neck and tinted glasses carry it even without the leather jacket.
- Rangers and staff: khaki or olive work shirts are easy to find. Iron-on or printed patches pull mismatched pieces into a uniform.
Wash everything once before wearing; thrifted cotton often shrinks a little, and it's better to find out at home.
Jeeps, Nests and Enclosures That Survive the Sidewalk
Many of these ideas turn a wagon or stroller into part of the scene, and the prop is usually what breaks first. A few habits keep it in one piece. Use corrugated cardboard for walls and lightweight foam for anything a child might touch, and join panels with zip ties through punched holes rather than tape alone. Hot glue lets go in cold night air, so I treat it as a tack and back every glued joint with a tie or a few stitches. Keep decorations below the handle and outside the seat, so the harness, brakes and wheels work as usual. Finally, pack a roll of tape and a few spare zip ties in a pocket. Something will come loose by the tenth house, and a two-minute repair saves the rest of the night.
Start With One Scene, Then Hand Out the Roles
What makes these family looks hold together is a single scene everyone belongs to: a dig, a rescue, a tour, a lab or a habitat. Once you've picked it, give each person a full role, meaning a base outfit, hair that stays put, light makeup if they want it, a safe prop and shoes they can walk in. The explorer clothing is easy to find secondhand, and the hooded suits are where the kids get their color. Wagons, strollers and wheelchairs can become jeeps, nests or enclosures as long as the decorations stay light and never get in the way. Three people or twelve, keep the colors consistent and the group will read as one family.
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