On the Friday and Saturday — and even Thursday — before Halloween itself, you can get the whole experience in and around Hudson (these are recommended events such as costume parties that answered an all-call of sorts for the scariest of the scary):
– The costume party at the Bungalow Inn in Lakeland, set for Friday and starting early, is the perfect way to kick off your Halloween celebration, as they say this can be a preview for how well your costume will go over in the rest of the weekend, if you are one of those go-getter, costume-contest hoppers. And there is karaoke and deejay Cory as well at the Bungalow, so you can strut your stuff and show off your voice to further impress the judges, and can be in part emboldened by drink specials. Things get started at 9 p.m., with registration at 10 and judging at 11, to win cash prizes. You must be present to win, so stick around.
If the start-of-Halloween-things on Friday does not fit into your busy costume-contest schedule, you can always go to a Plan B at the Bungalow and take in the act of Nici Peper, a longtime local music stalwart, on the very Tuesday of the haunting day itself. She plays at the Bungalow about once a month on Tuesdays — one of the few local places outside of the metro you will find her on a regular basis — again starting early during part of the dinner hour. Nici won the title of Minneapolis’ most authentic artist at the Wholly Guacamole contest, and was one of six finalists nationally. Whether performing solo, as part of Firefly, with The Big Smooch, or in other configurations, Nici radiates by performing indie, Americana, folk and mixing in other rootsy styles. She is influenced by classic storytellers and her voice has been described as vintage and soulful. Nici has opened for Brett Michaels, Elvis Monroe, GB Leighton, Dan Navarro and others. She has recorded in Nashville, toured extensively, has been on Twin Cities Live and Fox 9. Nici hosts an open mic Tuesday evenings and a songwriter showcase with the Soiled Doves, while working on her first solo album which is due out this fall.
– Join Seasons Tavern for a night of tricks and treats, including mood-making drinks, on Saturday night (not live but dead). There is as always live music by Thirsty Camel, which has become a tradition, starting at 8 p.m., and this camel is showing the same hump patterns as formed by the line of tombstones in the lead photo on the Season’s Facebook site. The costume contest has prizes for first, second and third place. Winners announced at 11 p.m. Stop in early, when the ghoulies are just getting going, for prime rib dinner starting at 3 p.m. And Seasons is more than walleye and fish fry, as the prime rib is also attracting raves from online commentators. And you can get it a little rare, if you wish, in honor of the upcoming Halloween holiday, or conversely, with quite a crisp. Either way, its fits with the Halloween motif.
– In this case, sexy is really, really in, as there will be the first annual Cajun (Club) Halloween on Friday, offering free cover with costume, spooky drink specials — don’t let the ladies scare you — and culmination of a costume contest at midnight. First place is a $100 bar tab, second a $50 bar tab and third a mystery prize (lord only knows what that might be!) Free giveaways will be offered throughout the night. A sponsor is Bud Light, and who knows, you might make a best bud during the evening.
– The Halloween observance is not the only gig at The Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt on the holiday weekend. On Friday night, the venue celebrates its 20 years in business, which is longer than a lot of establishments last. And it’s fitting that the musical host of the party is a band that’s been around for much the same length of time, and plays The Willow frequently, that being the Zebra Mussels. The same could be said of Saturday night’s band, The Strangers. They serve as the informal hosts of the costume party at the Willow, where during a break from the main music on Saturday night, people can get out on the floor and dance it up, and at the same time serve as each others judges for winning of prizes. The Willow has been known to on some years extend its costume party to both nights of music, and this time around you will likely see costumed creatures on Friday, as well, although there won’t be formal voting. That’s not necessarily to say that members of the Zebra Mussels won’t dress up, or have something else up their sleeves as far as donning costumes.
– But it is Bill’s Gun Shop and Range on The Hill in Hudson that really offers a chance to shoot-it-up, that being a chance to blow away pumpkins at $5 apiece. This will help you get your sights on the Halloween to come, as it is offered from 3-8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26.