See you on State Street?

By Matt Koldos
Manifest Staff Writer

Want to get out of town for Halloween but unsure of where to go?

Consider the State Street Halloween Party. Every year in the heart of Madison a huge — and often controversial — Halloween party is held. The tradition began in the late 1970s, planned and sponsored by the Wisconsin Student Association.

More than 100,000 people showed up in 1981 and 1982, making those years the largest crowd years in its history.

Not all that history is stellar. One of the low points in the tradition was in 1983 when a man fell off a building on the corner of State and Lake Streets and died.

In 1987 the WSA decided to stop sponsoring the event because of strict law enforcement and temporary liquor license policies. The main reason for the drop in sponsorship was the change in drinking age from 18 to 21.

After the WSA stopped sponsoring the event a recession began and the event saw very small numbers from 1988 to 1998. Out of nowhere, as in the stuff of legends, the event resurged in 1998. The MPD had a skeleton crew on that night because of the low number crowds in the past. Things got crazy when several thousand people started packed State Street within a half hour.

According to a UW-Madison report, the event has steadily grown from several thousand in 1998 to over 75,000 estimated at the 2005 event.

Today thousands of people, mostly college students, still crowd the streets showing off their Halloween costumes.
This year’s festivities kick off on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with the fencing off of State Street. There will be nine access gates where you will be required to present your ticket and get your hand stamped.

Tickets are $5 each and allow you to exit the fenced in area and re-enter up until 1:30 a.m. the following day.

Food venders will be located on the 700 block of State Street on the day of the event. A variety of entertainment will be provided on two stages near the intersection of Gorham Street and State Street.

“It’s a new experience; I want to get out of Dodge!” says UW-Marinette’s Sabra Sipple, who may attend.