Total SF Halloween costume contest

Heather Knight and Peter Hartlaub are bringing back The Chronicle’s homemade Halloween costume contest, ending with a meet-up at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27, at the The Chronicle, 901 Mission St.. The contest started on The Chronicle’s parenting blog, The Poop, a decade ago and celebrates crafty kids and families who make their own Halloween costumes. It’s returning this year with a San Francisco twist — prizes for citythemed costumes.

Is your child dressing as a Muni bus or Sutro Tower? A family costume as the Painted Ladies or the Grateful Dead? A baby just learning to walk could be the leaning Millennium Tower. (Too soon?)

Register in advance by emailing phartlaub@sfchronicle.com or hknight@sfchronicle.com and include “Total SF Costumes” in the subject line. The first 25 registered visitors in homemade costumes get free passes to the nearby Children’s Creativity Museum, with a $250 grand prize for the most Total SF costume and more prizes for participants.

A Chronicle photographer will also be on hand to document the costumes, and families will receive professional photos of their tykes after publication on sfchronicle.com.

This is a children’s costume contest, but we’d also love to see any old photos of adults in San Francisco-themed costumes. Photos and stories e-mailed to The Chronicle may be published.

Total SF is an event series for Chronicle readers that celebrates the city. Look for monthly events all year.