The Winner of Patch's Best Halloween Costume in America Contest is...

Ashley Playford dressed up as a pirate carrying a mermaid this Halloween. Well, actually, she dressed up as the mermaid. Her creativity has earned her the title of Patch's Best Halloween Costume in America and a $5,000 grand prize.  

It was Playford's use of an optical illusion that won us over. Playford entered the contest from Peekskill-Cortlandt Patch in New York.

Almost 4,000 Patch users entered the contest from Oct. 15 to Nov. 5, with costumes ranging from the Eiffel Tower and Honey Boo Boo to a flower pot and a clever interpretation of "binders full of women."

National judges chose one finalist from each Patch state based on who had the most creative and innovative costume (we combined North Carolina & South Carolina for this contest, as well as Washington D.C. and Virginia). Each state finalist will receive $250. From those finalists, Playford's costume was chosen as the grand prize winner.

Pennsylvania Winner

The Pennsylvania winner was Lucian Meckley, Germansville, who entered from Abington Patch. Meckley had a recycling truck costume, made by his dad and mom. It was made from cardboard with the wheels from a stroller and the frame from re-purposed wood.

Congratulations to Playford, Meckley and to all the other statewide winners (check out our gallery above for photos of all the finalists).

Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with next Halloween.