Porch goose trend flocks to Simcoe County

A gaggle of porch geese outfitted in various costumes. (Facebook/Erin Asher and Christine Romanelli)

A growing, nostalgic trend is flocking to Simcoe County.

The porch goose has quickly become a must-have on every front stoop.

In the 1980s, these geese popped up on porches across the U.S., but these days, they’re flying north.

• WATCH: CTV National News: Porch geese become the unexpected stars of spring

The waterfowl, typically made out of plastic, metal or resin, can’t go bare – they are being outfitted in elaborate costumes reflecting seasons and occasions, famous characters or fun and quirky get-ups.

The trend is growing on social media bringing together all sorts of crafters and designers to showcase their latest porch goose creation.

Christine Romanelli tells CTV News she wanted to “bring light to a negative platform.”

Some buy their outfits from inexpensive retailers, while those hardcore crafters make their own.

Lyndsay Badger says she buys baby clothing for her geese and had one of them dressed in a graduate gown to give her daughter “one last push during her exams.”

And it’s not just houses that are displaying these feathered friends, but businesses too.

“We purchased a porch goose for our office to bring a little fun and joy to a space where people typically bring a lot of difficult experiences and emotions,” says Jennifer Avery, a co-owner of Alliance Therapy Group in Barrie. “It’s been something some of our clients really look forward to and makes them smile.”

People are naming their geese also, like Erin Asher.

She says she was looking for more than a year and couldn’t find one. But one day, her husband surprised her with one who she calls Lady Featherington.

“I chuckle thinking of my husband walking through Canadian Tire carrying a goose,” she says.

Porch geese are flying off store shelves across Simcoe County including at Bradford Greenhouses Garden Gallery, Hallmark in Barrie’s Georgian Mall and Canadian Tire.

Now, they’re not only making a honking comeback but a quick search on social media provides dozens of pages and groups dedicated to the gaggle of geese, will bring about all the fun and quirky, porch geese out there.

We want your porch geese photos

We think this is a perfect theme for our Picture This segment, but we need your photos to make it happen. We’ll start collecting if you start sending to [e-mail].