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VikingsPackers Tug-of-War Shifts to Hudson After MnDOT Denies Lift Bridge Permit

Organizers will cap entries at 150 per side with in-person $30 signups at local bars.

Overview

  • The Jan. 4, 2026 event is set for 10 a.m. on Hudson’s Old Toll Bridge over the St. Croix River.
  • MnDOT rejected a repeat permit for the Stillwater Lift Bridge, citing long-term infrastructure protection and noting it is not in the event business.
  • Participants must register in person for $30 at Brian’s Bar in Stillwater or Guv’s in North Hudson, with 150 Vikings fans and 150 Packers fans allowed.
  • Organizers say they will pursue a compromise that could rotate locations between Hudson and Stillwater, as MnDOT offers to work with the community on alternative sites.
  • Proceeds support first-responder groups on both sides of the river through a 60/40 split, following last year’s roughly $4,000 that aided Saint Joseph Township Fire, the North Hudson Police Association and Lakeview EMS.