Since Halloween falls on a Wednesday, we might be tempted to throw in the towel after the last weekend of partying and spend the next few days thinking ahead to other holidays. That’s just crazy talk. We’ve got 3 more days to cram in as many Halloween themed events and entertainment as possible. Memories and inspiration from these final October days will help tide you over when Halloween 2008 is months away. Let’s soak up the last bits of creepy fun before the holiday zombies take over and things get all cheery.

For a really wide variety of events, GooGhoul and Eventful are the places to start. Citysearch and Cityguide are also useful resources, but with these last 2 sites look for “Guides” to Halloween rather than listings for individual events. It’s much easier to actually find a great event that way.

Haunted Attractions range from amateur haunts in your neighbors front yard to huge haunted mazes created by the pros. Major cities usually have a handful of options, but smaller towns also have their share of events, too. Check your options by visiting HauntedHouse.com and HauntedHouses.com. (There are plenty of other directory sites around, but they aren’t as easy to browse and navigate. Lots of them are mirror sites, too, so you will get the exact same results even though the site name and layout look different.)

Real haunted houses are another Halloween treat. Sometimes they get a lot more exciting around this time of year… but is it because the veil between the living and the dead is lifted on Halloween, or because we get wrapped up in the ethereal mood? What do you think?

For families and those seeking fun that also celebrates Autumn, you’ll want to find a pumpkin patch. You don’t even have to buy a pumpkin- we almost never do- to have a good time. There are a lot of outdoorsy activities like hay rides and corn mazes that are worth checking out. Large pumpkin patches or farms will also sometimes have events with music, rides, and food.

Don’t feel like going out? That’s why you pay the cable bill! Get a bowl of popcorn and park yourself in front of the boo tube for the remainder of the scary movies and Halloween episodes on TV. Perplexingly enough, AOL offers free streams of Halloween episodes from years gone by such as the Beetlejuice cartoon and Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper. YouTube has a lot of those episodes as well, but usually broken down into 3 different files. For full length movies, Lycos Cinema offers 70 horror films that you can also watch for free.

How will you be spending the next few days? What are you doing on The Big Day?

In short, they’re both. It’s always funny to see a furry little quadruped dressed in his or her finest inmate costume, but cats insist that the process is highly unappreciated.

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to find a “dog costume“, but that “cat costumes” pretty much don’t exist? Even if you don’t live with cats, you probably understand that getting one into a costume is generally a fool-hearty adventure. Yes, they look so cute that you will probably squeal, but at what cost? Some cats are good natured enough to let you treat them like a dog (zing!), but most of them would rather rabbit-kick you in the face than endure the humiliation of a costume.

Want an easier target? Kittens are easy to dress up, if you can find a costume small enough. Unless it involves meeting the family dog, they’re a pretty agreeable bunch. That wild look in Link’s eyes over there makes me think that he’s got more important things to do than hold a grudge. Immediately following the photo he just hauled ass to chase a dust bunny, not even noticing the fancy little cap he was still wearing. Kittens grow up though, so what are your options after Link Jr. starts cataloging your offenses, and extracting revenge via your home furnishings?

You can safeguard your flesh and furniture whilst still making your pet look a little more festive with latex nail caps.

Soft Paws/Soft Claws come in a long list of colors, and around Halloween the black/orange combo looks perfect. We’ve been using these on our cats for years and they barely seem to notice them, while we get a good laugh every time they try to claw up the carpet. Hah hah, nice nails tough guy.

As long as you’re not endangering or hurting your kitty, you can probably get him to wear a costume for at least long enough to take a picture. He may rip it off moments later, but you’ll still have proof for the Cats in costume flickr group or Costume Cats. If you happen to have a cat who enjoys being dressed up (or just want to laugh at more cats in costumes), be sure to check out Pet Office from Japan. (Here’s the English translation.)

April UPDATE: Cat wigs. Seriously.

Have you dressed your cat in a costume? We’d love to see pictures, so please leave a comment!

Here’s another round of couple costumes ideas, this time with a focus on the same gender. Whether you’re spending Halloween with your best friend or partner, here’s a few ideas for what to wear on The Big Night. If you don’t have time to put a costume together yourself, there’s still time to order from Halloween Costumes For Less (best costume retailer ever).

Daphne and Velma: The more interesting half of the Scooby Doo team wear brightly colored outfits that you can probably find at your local thrift store. Notice how even with the huge, dorky glasses and sweater that Velma is still totally foxy?

Ginger and Mary Ann: Another classic duo with costumes that are probably already in your closet are the lovely and comedic ladies from Gilligan’s Island. You’ll need a long, clingy dress with big red hair and red gingham with dark pigtails.

Shining Twins: The Grady Twins are unmistakable with their cult status, but surprisingly not a costume you see very often. Don matching blue dresses with a bit of splatter and you’ll be ready to play forever and ever.

Xena and Gabrielle: This is a popular costumed duo at conventions, but you can also go the store bought route. The dynamic between the two women makes this a great buddy or couple costume.

Absolutely Fabulous: The brash and hedonistic Patsy and Eddy are perfect costume choices for a Halloween party. The hair (blonde beehive and unruly red mane, respectively), fashion disaster wardrobe, and perpetual bottle of booze are good for a laugh, but the scathing one liners are what make these really fun costumes.

Siamese Twins: For the couple who simply can’t be apart, you can’t go wrong as conjoined twins. Sew together 2 skirts (for ease of movement) and start practicing your shambling.

Thelma and Louise: These outlaws are clad in denim, sleeveless tops, huge curly auburn hair, neck and hair scarves, sunglasses and red lipstick. Here are some suggestions and photos from the movie that would help with developing your costumes.

For the Fellas

Batman and Robin: What a great team. Superhero costumes have been a hot choice for several years in a row, but Batman and Robin will never go out of style. And neither will the innuendos.

Jay and Silent Bob: Except for Jay’s really long, stringy blonde hair, here’s another costume choice that you might have sitting in your closet. They’re the ultimate slackers so the costumes really take a back seat to the mannerisms and Jay’s one-liners.

Hot Fuzz: Nicholas and Danny are the ultimate buddy cops, with an English twist. First order of business in these costumes is to fire your gun in the air and yell “Aaaaaaah!”

Ambiguously Gay Duo: Spandex clad Ace and Gary are your ticket to non-stop double entendres. Actually, you might be surprised how many people made a go at this costume. If hits on flickr and Google are any indication of satisfaction, then this costume is a real winner.

Spy vs Spy: Have fun pranking your spy nemesis all night! All black or white costumes are easy to assemble, so just make a posterboard cone for the mask and add an extra large brim to your hat. This would work just as well for women, too.

Siamese Twins: This costume works for guys too, but it might be a little harder to walk with a set of conjoined pants. Maybe try for joined-at-the-waist a la Stuck on You.

Have you worn or seen any cool couple costumes? Share your ideas in the comments!

John Lennon and Yoko Ono: With decent accessories, you don’t have to resemble John or Yoko to make a convincing costume. The Wedding Album outfits might be even easier to reproduce if you have a lot of white in your closet.

Richie and Margot Tenenbaum: You’ll find everything you need at your local thrift store, and about a week of not shaving. Don’t forget your wooden finger (I hear cardboard works in a pinch) and tennis racket.

Casey and Scream Killer: Not a traditional couple, but a Halloween favorite nonetheless. This is another couple costume that can probably be shopped for exclusively at a thrift store. Add a little gore and a big old cordless phone.

Zombie Bride and Groom: We’ve said it before: zombie costumes can have any theme. Zombie outbreaks can happen anywhere, even at a wedding. Old wedding gowns and suits are cheap and plentiful, so get yourself a bottle of stage blood and get to splattering!

Mooninites: Some foamboard, hot glue, fluorescent paint, and blistering insults will make you want to write dis costume rulez #1 into a car with your key.

Morticia & Gomez Addams: For the highly amorous, raven haired couple, the Addams Family make perfect costume choices. If you can’t find a pinstripe suit, try the smoking jacket version; always have a cigar, though. A fencing foil or Thing make great accessories.

Fallen Angel & Devil: A sinister little twist on the standard angel/devil couple costume. Why can’t you both be a little naughty on Halloween?

Meg & Jack White Stripes: Alternating red and white t-shirts and bottoms, dark wigs. You are ready to rock.

Brangelina or Posh & Becks: Looking for the most unintentionally ridiculous costume possible? Be a celebrity couple! There’s even a Posh Wig in blonde or brunette if you don’t have that funky asymmetrical haircut.

*Sorry for being so gender specific with “couple” costume ideas (with the exception of the Mooninites). Check out our same sex couple costume ideas for friends and gay couples.

It’s October 23rd, so you’ve got just barely over a week to put together an awesome costume for The Big Day. Never fear, you’re not destined to wear an ill-fitting, cheaply constructed, store bought monstrosity this year! Through the magic of flickr, we’ve put together a list of creative costumes that you can whip together within a week, or just one night if you’re that much of a procrastinator.

Creepy Mask: Make an unsettling mask from ripped up magazine photos. The rest of the costume doesn’t really matter, since your freaky face will be the focal point.

Crash Victim: A little gore makeup, a lot of CAUTION tape, and a faux tire tread mark makes for smashing costume. Zing!

iPod Advertisement: You’re already permanently attached to your earbuds, so just add an all black outfit and a fluorescent sheet of post board or painted cardboard.

Just The Head: Equal parts irony and cute, wear just a headpiece. Make a paper mache mask, wear an ear hat, or just be a severed head.

Ninja: The costume that’s probably already in your closet. Head to toe black clothing with a t-shirt mask. Or add a twist and be a ninja ballerina, ninja runner, or make a social statement as an unemployed ninja.

2 Headed: You’re already half way there. Just add another head (think lightweight like styrofoam or paper mache), and wrap yourself in a scarf.

Salvador Dali: All you need is that gravity-defying mustache and a suit, plus a wily look in your eye.

Custom Super Hero: A cape and a mask are the basics, and that could be as simple as using a towel and a $2 mask. We’ve all wished for superhero powers, so just make up a character based on those dreams and practice your super poses for photo ops.

Cardboard Robot: As we mentioned before, robots make great costumes because they leave room for a lot of creativity and can be as simple or elaborate as you want. A box, some silver spray paint, and any cabling that you have lying around = robot.

Nudist on Strike: If it’s especially cold where you live, you can bundle up like usual and just add a “nudists on strike” sign. Be prepared to spend much of the night negotiating.

Have you found any cool online costume photos that might inspire a last minute costume? Halloween procrastinators need your help; leave your suggestions in the comments!

Step right up boils and ghouls, to the new Easy Felt Banner tutorial. With a couple sheets of felt and a sewing machine you’re about a half hour away from a scary circus inspired banner.

Remember the neighbor-frightening decoration that we mentioned earlier this month? Hopefully we’ll get that made tomorrow and posted in the next couple days. Unless it looks like crap, in which case we’ll be scouring the site 1984-style for promises of said tutorial. Double-Plus Good!