VBS Dress Up Days Apparel Ideas
Quick Answer- VBS dress up days (jersey day, beach day, color day, hero day) drive camper engagement and parent-friendly photo opportunities.
- Each dress up day works around the main VBS shirt rather than replacing it. Layer or accessorize.
- Custom day-specific shirts or hats can be added for the most-anticipated days (hero day, jersey day) without disrupting the main shirt order.
- No-minimum POD lets you add small day-specific orders alongside the main VBS shirts.
VBS dress up days are the engagement secret weapon. Jersey day, beach day, color day, hat day, hero day each give campers something to anticipate, parents something to photograph, and the program something to post on the church social media. The trick is coordinating dress up days with the main VBS shirt order so neither competes with the other. Below is the framework, day-by-day ideas, and how to handle apparel for the dress-up theme days that get the most participation.
The Five Most Popular VBS Dress Up Day Themes
| Day theme | What campers wear | Adds to main shirt? |
|---|
| Jersey Day | Sports jersey of choice over main VBS shirt | Layered, optional custom VBS jersey |
| Color Day | Crew color (matches their VBS crew assignment) | VBS shirt in crew color works as-is |
| Beach / Surfer Day | Bright tees, swim trunks, sunglasses | Optional VBS-themed tank or short-sleeve |
| Hat / Wacky Hat Day | Any hat from home plus main VBS shirt | Optional custom VBS hat add-on |
| Hero Day (cape, mask, etc.) | Costume over main VBS shirt | Layered, no replacement needed |
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.
When to Add Custom Apparel for a Dress Up Day
- Hero day: No custom apparel needed. Costumes are from home.
- Color day: Custom VBS shirts in crew colors work as the dress up. See our crew shirts guide.
- Hat day: Optional VBS-branded hat add-on as a small upsell.
- Jersey day: Optional VBS-themed jersey-style shirt if the church wants to commit. Most just let kids wear their own jerseys.
- Beach day: Optional VBS tank tops for the day. Strong if the VBS theme is beach or ocean.
How to Coordinate the Apparel
- Decide which days get custom apparel. Most programs add custom for 1-2 days, leverage existing main shirt for the rest.
- Order in the same batch. Main VBS shirts plus dress-up-day apparel in one shop order, one shipment.
- Announce dress up days in pre-VBS communications. Parents need 1-2 weeks notice to plan costumes.
- Photograph everything. Dress up days are the highest-engagement social posts of the week.
Add Dress-Up-Day Apparel Without a Separate Order
Custom hats, tanks, or theme-day shirts shipped alongside your main VBS shirt order. One shop, one shipment.
Start Free
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most popular VBS dress up day themes?
Jersey Day, Color Day (crew color), Beach or Surfer Day, Hat Day, and Hero Day are the most-used themes. Each balances camper engagement with parent-friendly photo opportunities.
Do we need custom shirts for every VBS dress up day?
No. Most dress up days work with the main VBS shirt as the base and home costumes or accessories on top. Custom add-on apparel (VBS hats, themed tanks) for 1-2 days is the typical mix.
How do crew colors work for color day?
If your VBS uses a crew system with each crew in a distinct shirt color, color day IS crew color day. Campers wear their crew shirt and add accessories (bandanas, socks, hair ribbons) in the same color.
Should we order custom VBS hats for hat day?
Optional. Most hat days work with camper-brought hats from home. Custom VBS-branded hats as an add-on can run $15-$22 each at no minimum and double as VBS souvenirs.
Tyler KasprzakYouth Sports Director
Tyler runs a multi-sport youth athletic program covering baseball, soccer, and basketball for kids ages 6-14. He has coached travel teams for 12 years and writes about uniform planning, parent fundraisers, and tournament logistics.
More articles by Tyler →
Bear Grips Pro Shops