With Hudson Halloweekend lurking, here are some spots to consider

Three days before the actual witching hour of Halloween, numerous bars and other locales in the Hudson downtown and surrounding areas already get going with costume contests that typically bring in thousands — both in number of party-goers and in amount of prize money.

This has been a Hudson tradition for decades, and involves both diehard locals and hundreds from the Twin Cities, often riding in on ghoul-friendly, glowing party buses. People hit the area discount stores in advance to get their gear and makeup, while some killer costumes — albeit with variations — get resurrected every year from the closet, just with the fake blood added in front of the mirror each time.

For 2023, having most of the parties on Saturday, Oct. 28, was an easy choice. The exact timing of when the winners are chosen varies by venue, and some of the more seasoned veterans make it a point to check out as many parties as they can, and rake in dough in the process. Some such partiers also frequent places not having costume parties and rather just music, simply to be further seen.

Some of the more cash-rich parties have put on such a show since before this Millennium, though the timing of when winners are picked and exactly how much money they will take home sometimes doesn't get finalized by venues until later in the week, right before the ballroom blitz.

The Bungalow Inn, just across the St. Croix River in Lakeland, Minn., is a good place to start on Oct. 28, since its costume contest judging is early, at 10:30 p.m. Participants must register by 10 p.m. and be present when winners are announced at 11 p.m. Also different from most of the other venues having contests, the Bungalow is presenting a band called The Drive, featuring the "coolest" music from the '70s and '80s, in their supper club format that often caters to a bit of an older crowd. The Drive goes on at 9 p.m.

The shining star each year is the Smilin Moose and lodge bar, with prizes for first place in the range of $500. The Moose often places in the back DJ area a stage large enough so it could house a full band, raised several feet above the floor — and on it parade the finalists.

Kitty-korner a block down, Dick's Bar and Grill has its accompanying music DJ really get into the act of chatting up the costumed crowd with spooky banter, often breaking them down into semi-finalists prior to picking who is best. Like some other venues, there can be distinctions made for those who are things like most original, male vs. female costumed customer, or even doing haunting as a couple. The chosen one or few will be named at midnight, the most common but not only time for such local venues.

At Hudson Tap, the treats are themed drink specials at 20 ounces for $4 made up of, not necessarily Bud, but Bloody Light beer drafts, as well as shots. And some of the best decor for the holiday you will find. This could be seen as the nighttime version of Bloody Mary's.

Places midstream in the downtown like Agave Kitchen, together with its upstairs Bullpen Cantina, have often followed the cultural surge and gone to having a vote done, even if cast later, via digital submissions.

Over at The Emporium in Hudson, they replay an old trick: having that night's band still to be finalized, so check their Facebook. Attendees can dress up in costume while the band plays in that big, multi-tiered dance-area venue. The Monster Mash?

The scene spreads into North Hudson, too, where the Village Inn takes command with its contest. The Inn’s cash prizes can't rival The Moose, but remains another very spacious place to hit and show off your goods.

A little off the beaten track, Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt, known for their weekly bands that play mostly classic rock, and country of that era, in an appropriately fall-themed wood-hewn atmosphere, so dress accordingly.

There are certain kings and queens who show up in slightly different versions of the same iconic costumes, year in and year out. There are two standouts, from what I've seen since the 1990s. And they are not always the prototypical Frankie or Dracula. Creativity goes a long way in winning these contests.

One is, almost literally, Lady Godiva, but don't pigeonhole her as that character or she just might cast a spell on you. Another is a man who is authentically in a shower up to his nose-high spray nozzle, but with curtain around him from neck down. Do we see a theme here?

Lastly, to get in the mood early if you are a Baby Boomer, there is an annual trick-or-treat giveaway of kids candy on Locust Street by almost a dozen of its businesses. Those attending can jump into the fray from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26 — in the same block as The Moose.