After what city officials called a successful Freakfest event on State Street for Halloween 2009, local planners are anticipating a high turnout and prominent headliner for the 2010 installment.
City officials have decided to essentially keep the status quo for Freakfest planning, said Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4.
Dave Maynard of Frank Productions, the firm organizing the entertainment portion of Freakfest, said the musical lineup for the event will be announced Sept. 27.
Maynard said Frank Productions has already booked the headliner and lead-in acts, which he said were booked to appeal to students in the Madison area.
“Obviously the major audience is UW students and college students,” Maynard said. “That’s what we always try to target.”
Prices to enter Freakfest will remain the same at $7 for advance tickets and $10 for sales the day of the festival, Maynard said. He also said some logistical changes, including the location of stages, will be implemented.
Because of tight crowds during the headliners at previous Freakfests, Verveer said the city decided to move the main stage on Capitol Square as close to the Capitol as regulations allow.
Verveer also said there is a possibility Freakfest could sell out this year; last year’s event brought 55,000 people to State Street, roughly the maximum capacity Madison Fire officials will allow on the stretch from Capitol Square to Library Mall.
“Over the last few years we’ve come close to filling the cap but haven’t gotten there yet,” Verveer said. “We’ll have to cross that bridge when we come to it.”
Public safety costs for the event have decreased over the years as State Street has become more tame around Halloween, Verveer said. Because of this, city costs to secure the event have made a net decrease throughout the last several years.
All entertainment for the event is being organized and paid for by Frank Productions, who are enlisting the financial assistance of sponsors to help pay for the entertainment.
Verveer also said he hopes Frank Productions books local acts in addition to prominent household names.
