Freakfest 2006 wrapped up peacefully early Sunday morning, marking the first time in five years Halloween has ended without pepper spray.
According to Madison police, 35,000 people crowded onto State Street Saturday night despite dropping temperatures and a $5 ticket price.
Police said they arrested 230 people over the weekend, compared to 566 arrests in 2005. Most arrests were alcohol related and ended in citations, though one man was taken into custody for head butting a state trooper.
The costumed crowd reached its rowdiest point at 2 a.m., as a mosh pit on the 500 block of State Street met with mounted police attempting to end the event. After several minutes, however, partiers began to filter out, bars began to empty and Halloween came to a close.
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, who walked along State Street most of Saturday night, said the event was a success.
""We met all three of my goals for this year,"" he said. ""We did not have to use pepper spray or have our police in riot gear. We reduced the amount of over-consumption of alcohol. And, we recovered a significant part of the costs.""
Cieslwicz estimated the city gained $150,000 from ticket sales, money it put toward police, lighting and other Halloween necessities.
Along with paid entry and seven blocks of orange plastic fencing, Freakfest also featured live music acts. At stages near the Capitol Square and Gorham Street, DJs and bands entertained attendees.
Ty Christian's band Paper Tiger performed on State Street Saturday night, and Christian credited live entertainment for the unusual peacefulness of this year's crowd.
""I think having bands helped to draw people out,"" Christian said. ""And the crowd was definitely enjoying itself.""
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, represents State Street and agreed live entertainment was ""a positive influence."" He added the music was only part of an all-around good time.
""I can't tell you how exited I was to not smell pepper spray as I have the last four years,"" Verveer said. ""I think by all accounts it was a great success.""
Verveer, who worked closely with the mayor in crafting the plan for Freakfest, said fencing and ticketing will likely return for Halloween 2007, the unofficial 30th anniversary of the event.
Cieslewicz spokesperson George Twigg said he and the mayor were also out on the town Friday night, specifically monitoring the atmosphere on Langdon Street. In the weeks leading up to Halloween, the two-lane road emerged as a potential party-alternative to State Street.
""There were people on Langdon,"" Twigg said. ""And the only thing going on was a sorority giving out free hot cocoa.""
