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2008 ‘Freakfest’ plans underway
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Madison partygoers could be paying more for Freakfest this year if City Council approves a discussed fee increase.
The Downtown Coordinating Committee met Thursday night to discuss preliminary plans for the 2008 Freakfest celebration, which will take place Saturday, Nov. 1.
The committee is still discussing how the admission fee will be set up for 2008’s celebration.
Partygoers may still have to pay for admission to State Street on the day of the event, but Freakfest’s 2008 budget has dropped drastically. The city budgeted $83,000 for the 2007 Halloween festivities, but this year the mayor has decided to decrease the budget to $56,000, according to Joel Plant, assistant to the mayor.
For those who live on State Street, admission to festivities will once again be free, said Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4.
The City of Madison is preparing to handle the Freakfest crowd with the assistance of $40,000 from the Madison Police Department.
“One of the reasons why State Street is fenced off is so there is a more contained area,” Verveer said. “In past years there have been several riots on Halloween.”
The Madison Police Department started analyzing the problems affiliated with Halloween back in 2002 and began to devise solutions.
Madison’s infamous Halloween celebration was free until 2006, when Madison switched the event to a ticketed entertainment event with fencing and bands. Frank Productions took over the event from the city in 2007.
“Frank Productions is the largest promoter of acts in town,” said Verveer.
Contracting with Frank Productions and putting three performance stages on State Street has lowered the number of violent outbursts on Halloween. Many people know proper concert behavior, Schauf said.
Frank Productions brought in nationally-recognized band Lifehouse to perform on the Saturday of Halloween weekend. The performers for Freakfest 2008 are still being decided on.
A glass-free zone has also been approved by the Common Council for Halloween 2008. The glass ban on State Street has been in motion on Halloween for five years.
“Glass is dangerous,” said Verveer. “Even if people don’t mean to be malicious, it is dangerous to have it on State Street during Halloween.”
The glass-free zone is in effect from 9:30 p.m. Oct. 31 to 6 a.m. Nov. 1, and from 9:30 p.m. Nov. 1 to 6a.m. Nov. 2.
Admission times for the festivities have yet to be decided. There will be a follow-up meeting Oct. 1 to discuss final plans for the festivities.
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….ugh.
what a joke what happen to madison…its no fun anymore
they ruin all our infamous madcity events and thats crap. Party on people, party on.
shyeahhh… if by “fun” you mean, riots, injuries, and property damage.
you flippin douchebags, grow the fuck up.
you whine and bitch that the police are just out to get you, they’re the bad guys, just WAITING to prey on poor, hapless, drunk & underage students… wahhh wahhh wahh. then you turn around and do all the same shit that they HAVE to come out for. if they’re NOT there and something happens, you’ll all be bitching and whining about how they “should’ve” been there.
the solution? don’t do illegal shit. don’t be drunk & underage in public. don’t behave as if you’re entitled to destroy anything in your path. i’ve seen tipped port-a-potties, i’ve seen scratched cars, flattened tires, broken glass EVERYWHERE, puke piles, guys pissing on houses/cars… come the fuck on!!!
you brainless twats. you can’t have it both ways. you’ll bitch and cry because someone damaged YOUR property, stole YOUR ipod, dented YOUR car… but you think it’s ok to get drunk and destroy other peoples’ property??? fuck off.
when you grow up and mommy and daddy aren’t paying for your diapers, your housing, your insurance, your car, your food, your laundry… maybe then you’ll realize that THINGS COST MONEY. the damages the fucking students do to madison on a regular basis - they don’t just disappear along with your hangover. SOMEBODY has to pay to get them fixed. if YOU had to pay taxes, you would understand why it’s so infuriating.
grow the fuck up, you ignorant, self-absorbed, semi-retarded, whining cunts.
I think that what they are doing here is very admirable. They are keeping people safe, while at the same time keeping State Street businesses safe. To have drunken idiots with glass bottles breaking everything is not that much fun in my book.. You can still get as drunk as you want, dress up, and have a good time. It’s all about your attitude.