Photos: Hudson Chamber of Commerce
Hudson’s Hilltop Pumpkin Party and Rotary Halloween Parade is an autumn mainstay.
It’s been 72 years since the first annual Rotary Halloween Parade—and the event just keeps getting better. For the past three years, Hudson Daybreak Rotary and Rotary Club of Hudson, Wisconsin, have collaborated with the Hudson Chamber of Commerce to combine the costume parade and contest with a Hilltop Pumpkin Party. The event now draws more than 400 attendees each year.
“By combining these two community events, it just made one bigger opportunity for people,” says Tyler Warwick-Mick, Hudson Chamber events and marketing coordinator and Hudson Daybreak Rotary member.
The free, family-friendly festivities will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. October 18 at YMCA Camp DayCroix. Visitors will enjoy food and treats, games and activities, horse-drawn wagon rides, a petting zoo and pumpkin decorating. The costume contest and parade is open to all ages and will start at 1:15 p.m. outside the Royal Credit Union Discovery Center. There will be cash prizes for the best costumes in four categories, with a $150 Best of Show prize.
Warwick-Mick says that seeing kids’ excitement about the pumpkins is their favorite part. “It’s a great opportunity to be able to come decorate [a pumpkin] for free, have fun with your kids and then get to take your pumpkin home at the end,” Warwick-Mick says. Visit hudsonwi.org for additional details.
