To some, Halloween in Madison never gets old — no matter what age you are. Though four long years separate them, both University of Wisconsin freshman Amanda Blomquist and UW senior Mike Keir summed up the weekend’s drunken festivities in one word: Awesome.

Blomquist, who celebrated her first Halloween in Madtown this year, said, “I knew it was going to be crazy, but nothing can compare to Halloween here,” she said. “It was the craziest night ever.”

Keir, who has celebrated every Halloween here since he first entered UW four years ago, agreed.

“No matter what happens, it’s always fun to just stand back and watch the madness,” he said. “I missed all the craziness last year, so this year I was determined to stay out. It was definitely a good time.”

This year’s festivities were slightly different than years’ past because of the official “Killer Party” run by local promoters Madtown Events, LLC. The idea of a community party first evolved after the disturbances, property damage and other “general un-niceness,” said promoter Will Komassa, of 2002’s celebration.

Madtown Events, together with the City of Madison, the Madison Police Department, The University of Wisconsin, and local-area bar owners and merchants, decided to do something about the unpleasant atmosphere and created a “town party” complete with live bands, prizes and restaurant/bar specials.

According to Komassa, co-creator of the party, “The whole thing went awesome.”

“Honestly, we could have been more organized, but it was the first year this sort of thing has taken place, so I’m sure it will only get better,” he said. “It just makes me happy that everything went so great. It really is too bad that a few people had to ruin it for everyone else.”

The “few people” that Komassa referred to are the participants responsible for rioting that occurred between 3 and 3:30 Sunday morning.

According to the Madison Police Department, riots broke out soon after the Killer Party’s last band, “Room Service,” left the stage. However, according to Komassa, there were many parts of the police’s statement that were in fact, “highly incorrect.”

“They said that the riots took place in the 500-700 blocks, but really it was just right in front of the University Inn,” he said. “They also said that people were moshing during the concert and that those people were then responsible for the riots, but that is not true.”

Komassa added that the riots took place between 3 and 3:30 in the morning, yet the Killer Party’s last band, “Room Service” ended at 10 after 1 a.m., a full two hours earlier.

“Some people were moshing during the concert, but it was not out of control at all,” he said. “I think the party did everything it was supposed to do; it kept everyone calm and busy for as long as we possibly could.”

For those who did not attend the party, house parties, bars and fraternity parties were a large part of the weekend’s activities. Despite nearly constant rain Saturday night, students and visitors alike roamed the streets, showing off costumes, hanging out with friends and people watching.

“The lines weren’t too bad at the bars,” Keir said, “but we still stuck to house parties for most of the time.”

After missing the riots that concluded last year’s activities, Keir and friends made sure to secure a good place for crowd watching “in case anything happened.”

For freshman Matt Garfield, witnessing the madness of the early-morning riots was purely accidental.

“I was walking back from a frat party at like 3:25 Sunday morning, when all of a sudden there was like four to eight guys with guns pointed at me,” Garfield said. “Apparently, the police were trying to block off part of State Street where windows had been broken, and I just happened to be caught up in it.”

Garfield was attempting to pass through the scene on his way back to Sellery, and when confronted by police in full riot gear, he simply “put [his] hands on top of [his] head and told them that if they were going to shoot, [to] go ahead.”

A UW freshman, who wishes to be referred to as Josh M., witnessed a drunken reveler smash a beer bottle over one policeman’s head.

“I just remember walking by, and all of a sudden we heard this huge crack,” he said. “It was insane.”

Despite all this, Keir still feels that the city of Madison was, “definitely prepared this year.”

UW Junior Ryan Jenness, who attended the Killer Party, agreed.

“The bands [at the party] were alright, but it was more the atmosphere that I appreciated more than anything,” Jenness said. “It created a jolly mood, and I feel like if the bands or activities weren’t there things would have been rowdier earlier on.”

In general, Jenness felt the celebration was “well-organized” and that the rioting should be attributed to a few drunken out-of-towners, not the show itself.

Keir seconded that opinion, saying, “I think drunk guys just like to break stuff. It’s a little ridiculous.”

In Jenness’ opinion, this year’s planned activities are the beginning of a new trend in Madison.

“I think the organization was a good first step to ending the riots and violence,” he said. “Next year will be better (less violent) and the year after that will be even better. There was no tear gas this year, only pepper spray. Maybe next year it will just be a scolding!”

And if Komassa has any say in it, the Killer Party will be a part of Madtown’s Halloween for years to come. “I certainly would love to do it again,” he said.