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Costume Contest Rules & Info
The 2026 Costume Contest Rules & Info:
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1st Place $1,000.00 - Group or Individual.
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2nd Place $500.00 - Group or Individual.
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3rd Place $250.00 - Group or Individual.
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$250.00 - Most Creative Category -
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$500.00 - Best Makeup Artist - artist has the option to share prize with their model zombie. You must register to be a makeup artist through LOLA Arts. You MUST be present at the Witches Ball by 10pm - The Artist & Model - NO EXCEPTIONS! (any person under the age of 17 can send a parent or guardian on behalf or speak to a Chamber representative to register your work) No Persons under 17 years of are permitted after 10pm at the Witches Ball. Makeup sessions will take place on October 31st 3pm - 7pm at the Land O' Lakes VFW. There will be early training classes & group practice sessions if you require. Call LOLA Arts at 715-547-3950 for more information or to register. You can also call or text Heather at 906-399-8149.
Judging will take place throughout the night during the Witches Ball at Northern Waters Casino Resort. Judges say is final.
*****Staying in costume and character is ideal for higher points. Simply put, if you show up in character and then spend the night with your costume off, you will get low points and likely will not win. The more you remain in character, the higher the points. *****
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****Wearing Face Covering at the Casino - Masks are prohibited on the gaming floor. No Exceptions. Face coverings such as makeup, FX like prosthetics, fake blood etc, are permitted, however the person will be required to wear a lanyard with their I.D. visible for identification. No Exceptions. Masks are allowed inside the convention hall where the Witches Ball is located.
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Multiple Category wins are possible. FOR EXAMPLE - If you are voted most creative, and voted best costume, you can win, up-to $1,250.00. If you are a LOLA artist, and are voted best makeup, and are voted most creative, and are voted 1st place, You & your zombie would win $1,750.00.
The Witches Ball - Info
The 2026 Witches Ball will be held at Northern Waters Casino Resort in Watersmeet Michigan just 8-miles north of Land O' Lakes. 8pm - 12am. There will be a DJ with light show for Dancing.
The Witches Ball is open to all ages through 10pm - AFTER 10PM NO PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 17 IS PERMITED AT THE WITCHES BALL. All persons underage will be banded - under 21 & will not be permitted to drink alcohol. NO EXCEPTIONS!!! 18 & older are allowed in the casino gaming area. Every person attending Zombie Crawl may register at guest services for $10 of free play.
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NO FACE COVERINGS (masks) are allowed in the gaming area. If you wear a mask for the costume contest, masks must be removed before entering the gaming area. If you have Makeup or Prosthetics on you will be required to have your I.D. On the outside of the costume so that you can be identified. We will provide I.D. Badge holders as you enter the Witches Ball.
Xecutive Limo Bus Service
Buses Start at 3 p.m. through 1 a.m. Each Bus Schedule is unique. See Below.
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Each Bus is named and banners are placed on the side of the bus to help you identify the bus.
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Bent's Camp Bus
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Land O' Lakes Bus
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Northern Waters Casino Bus
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The Bent's Camp Bus makes regular scheduled routes from Bent's Camp - to Gateway Lodge. The Bent's Camp Bus operates from 3pm - 10pm. The Bent's Camp Bus will not go to Twilight Supper Club or Northern Waters Casino Resort. You will need to catch the Northern Waters Bus at Gateway Lodge.
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The Land O' Lakes Bus makes regular scheduled routes from Twilight Supper Club to the Bear Trap Inn. The Land O' Lakes Bus operates from 3pm - 10pm to the following; Gateway Lodge, The Alley Lanes & Tavern, Brew's Pub. Twilight Supper Club is operating from 4pm - 9pm. The Bear Trap Inn is accepting stops only from 3pm - 5pm.
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The Northern Waters Casino Bus makes regular scheduled stops from Gateway Lodge to Northern Waters Casino. The Northern Waters Casino Bus operates from 3pm - 1am. If you are at the Witches Ball and not staying the night at the casino ($99 rooms) then the bus will bring you back after the Witches Ball. This bus will operate from 12am - 1am from Northern Waters Casino to Gateway Lodge, Bel-Air Resort or in the immediate Land O' Lakes area.
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****Buses are a contracted service. Bus drivers are not permitted to go off route, do not ask. No Exceptions****. If you need a handicap accessible bus, ask one of the bus drivers for that bus. We do have a handicap accessible bus in the lineup. PLEASE TIP YOUR DRIVERS. This is important and helps keep our costs low and the event free.
FAQ's
Can Under 21 attend Zombie Crawl? YES., until 10pm. Zombie Crawl is for all ages. No Underage persons will be allowed to consume alcohol, NO EXCEPTIONS! Persons 17 years of age & younger cannot attend the Witches Ball past 10pm. (NWC Rules) No Person under 18 will be permitted to the Casino's Gaming Floor, NO EXCEPTIONS! Please note, that some costumes can be offensive to those underage and the parents/guardians assumes knowing this and should always accompany them.
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18 & Older are permitted in the Casino Gaming Room.
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Does Zombie Crawl Cost? No. Zombie Crawl is free. The Bus rides are free, the Witches Ball is free & attending the venues are free. The only thing that costs are your drinks & food.
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Where do we stay? There are several area lodging that offer Zombie Crawl Rates. Northern Waters Casino, home of the Witches Ball offers $99 rooms. The Bel-Air Motel in Land O' Lakes offers $95 all inclusive rooms & The Gateway Lodge in Land O' Lakes offer $100 rooms for Zombie Crawl and the final Xecutive Limo Bus stops at each of the locations at the end of the night until 1a.m.
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Does it cost to enter the costume contest? No, it is free.
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​Can you wear masks or face coverings at the Casino? Yes, but not on the gaming floor. You may wear your masks & face coverings inside the convention hall for the witches ball. NO MASKS can be worn on the gaming floor at any time. If you have face coverings such as FX prosthetics, fake blood, makeup etc, you will be required to wear a lanyard with your I.D. visible at all times for identification. No Exceptions!!
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IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONs THAT ARE NOT HERE - CALL OR TEXT 715-547-3432 or 715-617-4274 AND WE WILL GET YOU THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTIONS. ​
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FX ARTIST COMPETITION RULES
The Makeup competition is open to all person & all ages. Artist & Model must attend the Witches Ball, however, Any person 17 years of age or younger is not permitted at the Witches Ball after 10pm due to Northern Waters Casino Resort's rules. Therefore, persons 17 years and younger that have entered the makeup competition may send a parent or guardian on their behalf, or inform a Land O' Lakes Chamber Representative to be your proxy vote prior to 10pm.
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Artist may use their own makeup, or use the FX makeup & supplies that will be supplied by the Land O' Lakes Chamber of Commerce & LOLA. (Land O' Lakes Area Artisans) You may use any of your own supplies including airbrush & all FX makeup tools and supplies.
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You DO NOT have to create Zombie or horror makeup to enter. ALL FX Makeup may enter the competition.
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The artist is entered into the competition, not the model. It is the artists decision to share prize money. Artist & Model are encouraged to create a plan prior to the competition.
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The Artist/Model session must occur at an FX Station on October 31st at the Land O' Lakes VFW Post 8400.
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The Prize is $500.00 Winner Take All. There are no other places.
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The Judges Decision is Final - Judging will take place during the Witches Ball between 10pm -11pm
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LOLA will offer opportunities to practice & see your makeup supplies prior to October 31st.
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For more information or to register as a makeup artist, call or text Heater at 906-399-8149.