Despite a few problems at Freakfest 2006, the new State Street Halloween festival will largely remain the same next year.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, played a key role in creating and promoting the plan this year. Although he called Halloween ""a success,"" he said he hopes next year's plan will address problems the State Street Halloween party caused for businesses, residents and UW-Madison students.
For example, many bars lost business due to poor placing of the plastic Freakfest fencing.
""I think we have to do better in terms of the entrances and exits and do better keeping in mind the businesses down there,"" Verveer said.
The city will likely use the coming weeks to address complaints from State Street residents who thought the ticket procedure was too complicated. In order to receive complimentary tickets to the event, State Street residents had to fill out an online order form.
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz's office will also search for ways to attract more UW-Madison student input in planning for the 30th anniversary of Halloween festivities on State Street.
""I hope that we can convince UW students, who remain consumers of this event, to realize that it's a pretty decent time,"" Verveer said.
Student discontent and State Street resident complaints were not the only hitches in this year's Halloween plan. The city also had to manage a minor crisis when only half of the private security guards hired to work the event showed up.
""They promised a certain number of personnel and they didn't show up,"" said Cieslewicz spokesperson George Twigg. ""Fortunately, it seemed like they were going to be problematic so we had made specific plans to have city staff on call.""
Police also released further arrest data Monday. Of 243 people arrested Friday and Saturday, 68 were UW-Madison students, 44 were students at other universities and the remaining 131 were non-students.
The statistics indicated that, as in recent years, the majority of Halloween troublemakers were not affiliated with UW-Madison. As part of this year's Halloween plan, the city hoped to discourage rowdy visitors from inciting a riot on State Street.
State Street Brats manager Tyler Kneubehl said the plan for Freakfest did prevent a violent end to Halloween, though he said the ticketing system actually prevented many local patrons from taking part in the party.
""What happened was most of the UW students that came in last year didn't come in Saturday night because they knew about the five dollar charge,"" Kneubehl said.
