Adult costume events on Friday and Saturday
Deadwood Mountain Grand hosts the 13th annual Monster Ball on Friday, Oct. 30. The party runs from 7 to 10 p.m., with Flannel performing live, dancing and a People's Choice Costume Contest. Admission costs $10, and participants must be at least 21.
The official Historic Deadwood event page lists a 9 p.m. announcement for the People's Choice winners, who must be there to claim their prizes. Door prizes will also be given out during the evening.
Saturday's annual Deadweird Costume Contest moves the celebration to the Historic Franklin Hotel. The contest attracts elaborate costumes from across South Dakota and the surrounding region, with $5,000 in cash and prizes available. Award categories cover singles/duos, best groups, best handmade and best theme.
Participants must be 21 or older. Registration and judging both take place at the hotel from 6 to 9 p.m., but entrants must register before being judged. The entry fee is $5 per person, payable in cash only, according to Historic Deadwood. Winners will be announced at the hotel at 9:30 p.m.; music and dancing run from 6 to 10 p.m.
KOTA Territory News discussed the celebration in a live interview with Jesse Allen, the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce's event coordinator.
Halloween activities for children
Families have two events to choose from on Oct. 31. The Days of '76 Event Complex hosts Deadwood Trunk-or-Treat from 4 to 6 p.m., while KidWeird runs from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Deadwood Gulch Convention Center.
Now in its 26th year, KidWeird is intended for children 12 and younger and is free to all. Historic Deadwood identifies the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce and NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources as the organizers.
Free late-night concerts
The Lodge at Deadwood has a separate option for guests 18 and older on both nights: local artist Greyson Kross's "Spiritual Warfare Live." Historic Deadwood lists both concerts as free, with doors opening at 10 p.m. and performances scheduled from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Sponsors and past attendance
Historic Deadwood lists six sponsors for Deadweird: Quality Brands of the Black Hills, Tito's Handmade Vodka, KOTA Territory, Silverado Franklin, Deadwood Mountain Grand and Sturgis Buffalo Chip.
In an Oct. 25, 2025, report about that year's celebration, NewsCenter1 described attendance in the thousands and said the visitors gave local businesses an economic boost between summer tourism and winter ski traffic. With Halloween falling on a Saturday in 2026, the report said locals were anticipating even larger crowds.
