Courtesy images. Manitou Springs Real Estate’s fortuneteller skeleton took second place.
Courtesy images. Toasted competed for the first time and was judged the best rookie skeleton.
Courtesy images. Toasted competed for the first time and was judged the best rookie skeleton.

Courtesy of the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce

As we said goodbye to the spookiest month of the year, our judges hit the streets to find the best skeleton window displays in Manitou. Businesses competed for bragging rights in the 2022 edition of the Skeleton Craze, presented by the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce and Ace Hardware.

This year’s judges were Kathy Minch, Sallie Knox Hall and Annie Schmitt, who all have been previous judges. They scored the displays based on creativity, best theme and overall appearance.

First place: the Manitou Art Center

Second place: Manitou Springs Real Estate

Third place: Mountains West

Best first-time business: Toasted

Mountains West also won the People’s Choice award, based on 300-plus digital and write-in votes.

Award winners receive Ace Hardware gift cards: first place, $250; second, $100; third, $50; and People’s Choice, $100. This year’s new category, best first-time business, receives a six-person wine-tasting party from Manitou Winery.

Honorable mentions include Green Horse Gallery, La Henna Boheme, The Hemp Store/Escape Manitou and Mountain High Gallery and Gifts. People’s Choice favorite scary movie is tied between “Halloween” and “The Shining.”