Ticket prices for the famed Halloween party on State Street will increase this year.

Over the summer, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, along with other city officials, hiked Halloween ticket prices from $5 to $7 on Saturday, Oct. 27, the day of the event. The $5 tickets were introduced last year—attendance was free before then.

This year Halloween weekend also falls on UW’s Homecoming football game against Indiana.

State Street will be gated off, and Friday night’s festivities will remain free like last year.

Still, the small price increase is not meant to deter students and partygoers from coming to the street. Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, said if anything, it will deter those who come from far and wide.

Cieslewicz spokesperson George Twigg said the plan to increase ticket prices the day of Halloween was done in hopes of creating smaller lines and generating more interest in the weeks leading up to the event.

Also, Judge said UW-Madison students can purchase tickets ahead of time for $5, just as last year. He also said tickets will be available online and at several accessible locations in the downtown area.

In addition to the ticket increase, the city has hired Frank Productions to be in charge of entertainment for Saturday evening.

Judge and Cieslewicz have both said getting a “headliner” for Freakfest 2007 is a must. Constructing three stages for bands is another new addition to the event. Last year, only two stages were used.

Nevertheless, Judge said quality entertainment is necessary because having students pay to get into the party has been a very unpopular move on campus and it would help to “offset the mental cost.”