MADISON, Wis. -- Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz called this year's Freakfest a success.

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"Last year, was pretty good when we started the gating and ticketing. But this year, was even an improvement over that," he said.

Cieslewicz said the biggest improvement was the overall tone of the event.

"I saw a lot of people having fun," said Cieslewicz. "And I saw a lot less people really inebriated, which is a very good thing. The tone on the street has been much different than it's been in previous years."

The mayor credited security with playing a major factor in keeping things positive.

"This year was a huge difference," he said. "We had a very professional security company this year. They handled things great. I went though the security line just like everybody else. They checked me out to make sure that I wasn't carrying anything that I shouldn't have been."

The next order of business for the annual event is to cut costs, officials said.

"I think were starting to discover that perhaps we won't need quite as many police officers on the street in future years as we've had in previous years," said Cieslewicz.

The mayor said the event is one the city, students and he can be proud of.

"I really am very pleased at the way the community has come to together and the way this event has turned around so rapidly over the course of just a couple years," he said.