Eve of Haunted Destruction

Joliet area Halloween event tickets and information

October 2027

Racing, wreckage, and Halloween fun for all ages at Dirt Oval 66 in Joliet, Illinois

The wildest night of racing and destruction at the Dirt Oval is back with even MORE to see & do than ever before! Bring your Halloween weekend party to the race track for the Eve of Haunted Destruction end-of-season thrill show. Witness the bone-jarring lawn mower demo derby, compact car demo derby, and RV demolition derby! Plus, backwards school bus racing and the extreme figure-8 trailer race will destroy anything and everything.

Arrive early for Trunk-or-Treat and come dressed to impress in your most creative, cute, or horrifying costume for a chance to win up to $1500 in the costume contest.

The young speed demons will start the on-track action with Power Wheels racing and fireworks always close out the show with a bang.

Event Location:

  • The Dirt Oval @ Route 66 Raceway
  • 3200 S. Chicago Street
  • Joliet, IL  60433

Map:

Tickets for Saturday’s Event

All ticket levels are available now or when you arrive. Cash, card, and digital payments accepted at the ticket window. Reminders: ADA sections are up-front and ages 2 & under are free in general admission.

One Ticket for Everything

All contests, trunk or treat, and interactive experiences are included with your event ticket! No up-charges or special tickets once inside the gate. Food, drinks, and a pit pass for competitors are the only paid extras. Power Wheels racers do not require a pit pass.
night of thrills joliet

Earlier Start Time + Trunk or Treat!

Eve of Haunted Destruction festivities begin at 3:00pm when the gates open for grabbing the best seat and, of course, who doesn’t want some free candy!? Local businesses and volunteers will be setup for Trunk or Treat until 5:00pm when opening ceremonies get underway.

THANK YOU to the over 30 participants in Trunk or Treat; the largest amount to date for this event!

Racing & Wreckage Lineup

From small cars to over-sized RVs, there is racing and destruction events of all sizes! Follow updates throughout the show with Dirt Oval 66 on Facebook and @Dirtoval66 Instagram.

RV DEMO DERBY

SCHOOL BUS RACES

LAWN MOWER DEMO DERBY

COMPACT DEMO DERBY

FIGURE-8 TRAILER RACE

BURNOUT CONTEST

SPECTATOR SERIES RACING

HEARSE DEMO DERBY

1 vs 1 Dirt Drags

$1500 Costume Contest

1st place in each category wins $100; 2nd place $75; 3rd place $25. No tricks. Only cash! Complete the registration form online before you arrive for less wait time at the judges zone (South end, under grandstands).  Categories: Group (3+ people) | Family | Couple/Duo | Ages 0-4 | Ages 5-10 | Ages 11-16 | Adults 17 & older.
 
The seven category winners advance to final round where the live crowd will decide the ultimate $1500 winner by the loudest applause! 

Power Wheels Racing & Design Competition

Bring your best / scariest / funny / creative decorated Power Wheels and earn the fan applause to win an extra trophy! One winner will be decided in each age group (3 – 5 & 6 – 10). All drivers will receive a ribbon for competing in the races. 
 

New Haunted House

Come experience THE DEAD END haunted house! A brand new build & experience exclusive to Dirt Oval 66. No extra cost to go through! Open from 3-10pm. 3-5pm reserved time for a “less intense” scary experience for the younger guests. Got nowhere to go once the on-track action is silent? Screams are free and open until 10pm!
 

Bounce House for Kids

We know the kids don’t sit still the whole time. Let them burn off energy and get crazy inside the free bounce house. It’ll be there and open to use from open ’til close. Watch for the hay ride line too and take the whole family on a journey around the Dirt Oval property.
 

Fireworks Show!

The stadium lights will go dark and we set the night on fire! Enjoy one last blast of fireworks to end the racing season. Our awesome fireworks show will ignite prior to the last two races of the event: Figure-8 School Bus feature and Extreme Trailer Race.
 

October Birthday Party Idea!

Bring your special day to the Dirt Oval with our reserved birthday party package.

more information
The event parking fee is $5 per vehicle. Yes, you can tailgate (responsibly) before the show!
Event is scheduled to conclude at approximately 8:00pm. Competitions, races, and event entertainment subject to change without notice for any reason.
Fan requests/announcements are not accepted on event day. Please use our request form. Questions? Call 815-740-8000 or send us a message.