2026 Halloween Costume Contest For All Ages

$1,500 to win at Dirt Oval 66

The largest outdoor Halloween motorsports event in Will County is coming to life at Dirt Oval 66 Raceway on Saturday, October 24, and you could take home $1,500 for the best costume! Whether you’re a creative crafter, spooky showstopper, or want to win over the judges with cuteness instead of scare tactics, the Dirt Oval 66 raceway is the place to be for one of the biggest Halloween costume contests in Illinois as part of the annual Eve of Haunted Destruction thrill show!

Costume contest for kids, couples, & adults

The Dirt Oval 66 Halloween Costume Contest is part of the fan-favorite Eve of Haunted Destruction event, where racing and Halloween collide for one unforgettable night of fun, frights, and fast-paced entertainment. Everyone is invited to arrive in Halloween attire & sign-up for one of the several costume contest categories: Kids, Adults, Families, Duos, and Groups—each have a chance to win $100, and one lucky contestant will take home the Grand Prize of $1,500, decided by the loudest crowd applause!

Think you have what it takes? Costumes will be judged on creativity, originality, and if they’ll “wow” the thousands of fans in attendance! Bring your best costume & definitely a cheering section to help your chances of winning the $1,500 pay day! We’ve seen everything from skeletons to transformers; vending machines to porta-toilets; princesses to puffy aliens. The creativity from all categories has been incredible and 2026 likely will be the best yet with the most money ever on the line for a costume contest at Route 66 Raceway’s Dirt Oval in Joliet.

Where is the Costume Contest in Joliet?

Location: Dirt Oval @ Route 66 Raceway, 3200 S. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL

Tickets:  You’ll need tickets to Eve of Destruction racing & demolition event to participate in the contest. Buy online or get to the ticket window upon arrival.

Parking & accessibility: Arrive early for tailgating in the parking lot & Trunk or Treat at 3:00pm. Parking spots for ADA & motorcycles are in the front.

Getting to Dirt Oval 66: See our Directions page for details on area road construction and closures.

Saturday, October 24 at the Dirt Oval Raceway

The costume contest is just a small part of the huge lineup of racing & wreckage at the Eve of Haunted Destruction. Demolition derby with motorhomes & lawn mowers will leave parts & broken hearts on the track. Kids Power Wheels racing probably will be less chaotic, but not the extreme Trailer Race and get ready to see full size school buses racing in reverse!

Tickets for the Event and Contest

Tickets for the Eve of Haunted Destruction can be purchased online or when you arrive October 24. Save $5 per ticket until October 19. All participants for the costume contest must have event ticket. The individual category & grand prize winners will be determined throughout the show. Ticket prices for all fans listed below. Dirt Oval 66 is not a cashless venue! We accept pretty much any form of payment other than Shake ‘n’ Bake coupons.

• Adults (ages 13+): $33
• Kids (ages 3-12): $23
• Reserved Seats in middle of the grandstand (applies to all ages): $36
• ADA/Wheelchair section: $33
• Ages 2 & younger are FREE in general admission.

Parking: $5 per vehicle at the entrance payable via cash or card.

Don’t miss your chance to be crowned the 2026 Dirt Oval 66 Halloween Costume Champion!

2025 champion: adult-size Optimus Prime