Fall Downtown Fest Casket Races
Build It. Race It. Survive It.
Think you have what it takes to send a homemade casket flying down South Spring Street?
Welcome to your headquarters for the Beaver Dam Casket Races at Fall Downtown Fest. Whether you’re building your very first racing casket, dusting off an old one for another run, or trying to figure out exactly how wheels are supposed to attach to a casket, you’ll find what you need right here, thanks to our sponsor, Casket Builder Supply.
Gather your team. Pick a theme. Build your casket. Then prepare to race for cash prizes, bragging rights and the satisfaction of knowing your questionable decisions have finally led somewhere.
NEW FOR 2026: Team Age Advantage
This year, age has its advantages. For once, getting older could actually get you to the finish line faster.
To encourage racers of all ages to join the Beaver Dam Casket Races, teams can now earn a head start based on the combined age of all five team members—four pushers plus one rider. Simply add up everyone’s ages. The higher your team’s combined age, the farther down the course you’ll start, with a maximum 25-yard head start for teams totaling 300 years or more.
Yes, the rider’s age counts—but there’s a catch: the rider must remain in the casket for the entire race. No recruiting Grandma for the math and making her get out at the starting line. The older your team is, the less distance you have to die for.
Team Age Advantage
Combined Age of All 5 Racers Head Start
Under 150 years = 0 yards
150–179 years = 5 yards
180–219 years = 10 yards
220–259 years = 15 yards
260–299 years = 20 yards
300+ years = 25 yards
What Does That Look Like? You don’t necessarily need five 60-year-olds to gain an advantage. Mix and match your team strategically:
Example Team Combined Age Head Start
Five 18-year-olds 90 = 0 yards
Four 20-year-old pushers + 70-year-old rider = 150 = 5 yards
Five 30-year-olds = 150 = 5 yards
Four 50-year-old pushers + 15-year-old rider = 215 = 10 yards
Five 40-year-olds = 200 = 10 yards
Five 50-year-olds = 250 = 15 yards
Four 55-year-old pushers + 55-year-old rider = 275 = 20 yards
Five 60-year-olds = 300 = 25 yards
Four 60-year-old pushers + 90-year-old rider = 330 = 25 yards
Choose your team wisely. Speed matters—but in 2026, experience might get you 25 yards closer to the finish line before the race even begins.
NEW RACERS: START WITH A FREE CASKET KIT
We’ll Help Get You Rolling
Never built a racing casket? Don’t let that be the death of your racing career. Thanks to Northwoods Casket Company and Casket Buillder Supply, we’re giving away a limited number of FREE casket building kits to help new teams get started.
Kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with one kit available per team. To claim one, you’ll register your team and pay a $50 deposit. Show up and race on event day, and $30 of your deposit will be refunded. Only a limited number of kits are available. Once they’re claimed, they’re gone—so if you’ve been dying to try Casket Racing, this is your chance.
ALREADY HAVE A CASKET? LET'S RACE.
Returning Racers & Casket Owners
Been down South Spring Street before? Have a battle-tested casket waiting in the garage? Or maybe you built one and are finally ready to see what it can do? You don’t need the giveaway—you just need to register your team.
Businesses, organizations, coworkers, families and groups of friends are all welcome. Bring back an old favorite or give your casket a new theme and prepare for another shot at the finish line.
BEFORE YOU BUILD...
Casket Race Rules & Specifications
Creativity is encouraged. Engineering disasters are not. Before you start cutting lumber, mounting wheels or constructing something that looks fast but has absolutely no business moving at that speed, read the official Casket Race Rules & Specifications.
You’ll find the requirements for your casket, team, rider, construction, safety rules, team age advantage head start rules, and race-day participation. Check the specs before you build so your creation is ready to race when it reaches South Spring Street.
BUILD YOUR CASKET
From a Pile of Parts to a Racing Machine
Never built a racing casket before? That’s probably a good thing.
Our friends at Casket Builder Supply have put together video tutorials to help take some of the guesswork out of your build. Whether you’re starting with one of our free casket kits or building your own, these videos offer practical tips to help get your creation rolling down South Spring Street. Before you start building, get some helpful advice on constructing your casket racer. This tutorial covers construction tips to help you turn your materials into something ready for the race course.
Tutorial 1: Casket Construction Tips
Before you start building, get some helpful advice on constructing your casket racer. This tutorial covers construction tips to help you turn your materials into something ready for the race course.
Helpful hint: Watch this before you reach the “we probably should have watched the video first” stage of construction.
Tutorial 2: Choosing Wheels for Your Casket Racer
Your casket needs wheels—and apparently grabbing four random ones from the garage isn’t necessarily the best engineering strategy. Learn what to consider when choosing wheels for your casket racer so you can make a more informed decision before getting your build rolling.
Tutorial 3: Coming soon!
BUILT IT? NOW MAKE IT YOURS.
The basic casket is only the beginning. Some teams go spooky. Others go funny. Some build their theme around their business or organization. And some create something so bizarre that we’re not entirely sure how they arrived at the idea—and that’s exactly what makes the Casket Races fun.
Choose a theme, dress the team to match and prepare to make your entrance during the Grand Procession before the racing begins. Then there’s only one thing left to do:
Push like your afterlife depends on it. ⚰️
There’s More to Fall Downtown Fest
The Casket Races are just one part of the Halloween fun! Head back to the Fall Downtown Fest page to explore the full weekend, including family activities, entertainment, the Inflatable Costume Races, trick-or-treating and more happening throughout downtown Beaver Dam.