Washington National Opera's Halloween Costume Sale Brings In $65,000

The Washington National Opera’s Halloween costume sale this past weekend was busy, beautiful, and lucrative. More than 2,000 items sold, earning the company nearly $65,000 toward its artistic and education programs. About a thousand shoppers braved the rain to attend the event, with some very determined patrons lining up as early as 7:30 AM.

According to the company’s press office, shoppers endured three hour waits throughout most of Saturday morning. While they waited, some even joined in on spontaneous “opera sing-offs.” Here’s a look at what else you missed.

Kim Wittenberg was one of the first shoppers to arrive. She tried on a number of ornate dresses. Photo by Teresa Finn.

Lines to get inside the sale snaked through the building. Once inside, shoppers waited in line a second time to check out with their new costume pieces. Photo by Teresa Finn.

16 year-old Darrow Sherman, left, and 14-year old Abraham Joyner-Meyers, right, shopped for quirky outfits. Photo by Teresa Finn.

Clark Cheney fashioned an Aladdin costume out of items picked up at the sale. Photo by Teresa Finn.

Clark Cheney arrived nearly an hour before the sale began. “I’ve been waiting for the Opera to hold a costume sale for six years so I wanted to come early,” he says.

Teena Huang checks out with a bounty of hats. Photo by Teresa Finn.

Packard with her costume–a dress she describes as “Helena Bonham Carter-esque.”

“My six-year-old son’s favorite movie is Les Mis, and he really wanted to be Gavroche for Halloween,” says Sydney Packard, an Ashburn resident who arrived at the sale at 8:20 AM. She bought her son a Gavroche-inspired costume, plus a black dress for herself.

Peter Knockstead came to support the arts and have some fun at the urging of a friend. “I’m always up for a little drama,” he says.

Long lines didn’t deter shoppers from visiting the sale.

Erica Ferguson, an aspiring opera singer, took a break from her studies at Towson University in Baltimore to get up close with the Washington National Opera’s costumes.