Downtown Rapid City was absolutely alive with the dead on Saturday, October 25, as more than 400 ghosts, ghouls, and costumed characters took over Main Street for the 3rd Annual Creepy Crawl.
This wasn’t your ordinary pub crawl — it was a full-on murder mystery adventure. Participants checked in at Murphy’s Pub & Grill at 5 p.m., ready to solve clues, sip spooky cocktails, and haunt their way through some of Rapid’s favorite downtown spots.
🕵️♀️ The Crawl & The Clues
From 6 to 9 p.m., crawlers pieced together the mystery while hopping between Murphy’s, The 445 Lounge & Grill, Press Start, Firehouse Brewing Company, Independent Ale House, Woodland Republic Brewing & Blending, Paddy O’Neill’s, Aby’s, and Pour 54 Taphouse.
Each stop offered themed drinks, eerie decorations, and actors in full character, adding layers of intrigue (and laughs) to the night’s puzzle. Costumes ranged from classic monsters to clever, hilarious, and downright disturbing creations — making every pub a stage for Halloween showmanship.
👻 Best Costume: The Headless Bride
When the dust settled and the clues were cracked, the crowd returned to Murphy’s for the grand finale and prize drawings — with over $2,500 in giveaways.
The evening’s top honor went to the Headless Bride, whose gory, creative ensemble turned heads (and stomachs). The blood-soaked veil, missing noggin, and gruesome details made it a fan favorite and earned her the Best Costume Award of 2025.
🕸 Community & Chills
The Creepy Crawl has quickly become a downtown Halloween tradition — part costume contest, part bar hop, and part live-action whodunit. The event’s growing attendance and energy speak to how much the community loves blending local nightlife with creative chaos.
“This year was our biggest Creepy Crawl,” said Head Organizer Mitchell Stafford. “We can’t thank downtown bars and everyone who participated in the Creepy Crawl enough for making it such a huge success. We had nine bars and over 400 people participating this year!
The murder mystery was such a fun addition to the crawl. Shout out to the HomeSlice Cast for helping us put it all together.
We look forward to next year’s crawl. Who knows — maybe we’ll have real ghosts involved!”
🧛♂️ A Big Thank You
HomeSlice sends a huge thanks to all participating pubs and the many local staff, bartenders, and volunteers who kept the spirits (and spirits) flowing throughout the night.
Participating Venues:
Murphy’s Pub & Grill • 445 Lounge & Grill • Press Start • Paddy O’Neill’s • Independent Ale House • Pour 54 Taphouse • Aby’s • Woodland Republic Brewing & Blending • Firehouse Brewing Company
The 2025 Creepy Crawl once again proved that when Rapid City throws a party, it’s to die for.
See you next Halloween — if you dare. 🦇
Disclaimer: The Creepy Crawl was promoted by the HomeSlice Group, the parent company of The Rapid City Post.