The Winner of Patch's Halloween Costume Contest Is ...

The Pirate Carrying a Mermaid Optical Illusion has been named Patch's Best Halloween Costume in America. Its creator—and wearer—will receive a $5,000 prize for having the most creative and innovative costume.

Ashley Playford dressed up as a pirate carrying a mermaid this Halloween. Well, actually, she dressed up as the mermaid. Well...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. Take a look at the photo she entered on Peekskill-Cortlandt Patch! 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 1 finalist from each Patch state based on who had the most creative and innovative costume (we combined North Carolina & South Carolina for this contest…

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Patch's Halloween Costume Contest: The Winner of the Best Costume in Georgia Is...

The Georgia winner, who will receive $250, will now be entered to win the $5,000 grand prize in Patch's Best Halloween Costume in America contest.

You know what they say—no (goblin) guts, no glory. Congratulations to "Box of Popcorn or 'KendallCorn'" uploaded by Paige Funk from Smyrna, the Georgia winner of Patch’s Best Halloween Costume in America Contest. A total of 349 photos from across Georgia were entered into the contest. Parents posted hundreds of costume photos of themselves and their families from this Halloween or from years past. We had lots of ghouls, ghosts, and Honey Boo Boos to choose from, but this Box of Popcorn won us over. As the winner of the $250 prize for the best costume in Georgia, Box of Popcorn by Paige Funk is now in the running to be the $5,000 grand prize winner of Patch's Best Halloween Costume in America contest. The winner will be announced on Monday.

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Last Day To Enter Patch's Costume Contest

Submit your entry before the stroke of midnight tonight and you could win $5,000 in Patch’s Best Halloween Costume in America Contest.

Patch’s Halloween Costume Contest Ends Soon

Monday is the deadline to enter Patch's Best Halloween Costume in America Contest. Enter yourself or your kids for a chance to win $5,000.

Win $5K in our Halloween Costume Contest

Halloween is over, but you still have time to submit your photo in our contest to find the best Halloween Costume in America. Enter yourself or your kids by Nov. 5 for a chance to win $5,000.

Sight Loss Potentially Caused by Decorative Contact Lenses

Read this before you put those decorative contacts on your eyes.

If you’re looking for that eye-popping touch for your Halloween costume, you may want to think twice before donning decorative contact lenses. These products are increasingly popular costume ideas, but according the American Academy of Ophthalmology, decorative contact lenses can also lead to real-life nightmares like permanent eye damage and vision loss when they are purchased without a prescription. Many people don’t realize that all contact lenses are medical devices that require a prescription and proper fitting by an eye care professional such as an ophthalmologist—an eye medical doctor. Products that claim “one size fits all” or “no need to see an eye specialist” are misleading, and may even be on the market illegally. Retailers that…

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Community Photos

Photo of the Day: An Evening Lake Walk

Check out today's featured photo and upload your pictures and video clips now for a chance to win!

Have you taken any interesting photos or videos lately? Enter the contest by clicking on "upload photos and videos" or visiting one of our neighborhood galleries, and your photo might be the next one featured on Patch! Each week we're giving away a Patch prize to one winner selected at random from the readers whose photos are featured Monday through Friday. The winner will be announced Sunday. Photos uploaded to the Featured Photos articles or to one of our neighborhood galleries qualify:

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Trick or Treat Village Opens at 2 P.M.

The 16th-annual event is free and aimed at the whole family.

Weekend Spotlight

Weekend Spotlight: Zombies Walk for a Cause [VIDEO]

Take a look at this fun event happening this weekend in neighboring Cobb County.

This week's Patch Weekend Spotlight video features Marietta Zombie Walk.  The event takes place this Saturday in Marietta Square, and benefits MUST Ministries. The "Infestation" (gathering) starts at 5 p.m. in Glover Park and the "Feeding" (Zombie Walk) starts at 6 p.m. Carnival of Doom, in association with Marietta.com, The Strand, Zenith Design Group and Johnnie MacCracken’s Celtic Pub, are sponsoring the event.

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