Here is a list of frequently asked questions about "Freakfest 2008," the city-sanctioned event planned for the night of Nov. 1, along State Street in Madison.

Click on the links below for brief information about topics related to the event. Check back for frequent updates:

Halloween Information: History | The Plan | Hours | Tickets | Music | Food | Parking | Taxis | Transportation Information | Bike Information | Police Safety Recommendations |Glass Free Zone

History

Click here to read an article about the history of Halloween on State Street.

The Plan

A long and sometimes infamous tradition in Madison, the annual Halloween celebrations along State Street date back to the 1970s.

City officials said that with attendance sometimes hovering around 70,000 people, various arrests and reports of violence and property damage have sometimes accompanied the event, which typically occurred the Saturday prior to Halloween.

In previous years, authorities have often resorted to using pepper spray or other crowd-dispersal agents to break up the festivities. The 2005 event cost taxpayers $600,000 as various government agencies had to assist in the policing the event.

In 2006, Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz spearheaded an effort to organize the event so as to corral the excesses that have sometimes marred it and the city's reputation in years past. City and law-enforcement officials have said that the new plan was designed to curb the rioting, injuries and property damage that have sometimes accompanied the celebration in years past.

To do this, Cieslewicz and the Madison Common Council adopted a plan that would ring a fence around State Street, sell tickets for $5 apiece, and cap the event's capacity at 80,000.

Madison's 2006 Halloween celebration went off without the riots and police confrontations that marred the party in past years. Officials said that success was due in large part to the city's increased involvement in the 2006 event.

The city brought back Freakfest in 2007, with local promotion company Frank Productions doing a large share of the organizing. The city called the 2007 event, which featured three stages of music and various food vendors, a success. In an effort to continue molding the event into a more peaceful celebration, the city is again teaming with Frank Productions and charging admission to Freakfest 2008.

"In the last three years, we've transformed Halloween on State Street into a music festival with costumes. My hope is that we can continue to transform this event from what had been a black eye for the city to something we can be truly proud of," Cieslewicz said in a news release.

Freakfest 2008 will again take place on State Street and is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 1. As in 2007, revelers will have to purchase a ticket to be admitted to the event.

Hours

The event will be held from 7 p.m. on Nov. 1, to 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 2.

Tickets

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $7 each. Organizers said that those seeking to buy tickets will be allowed to purchase up to four tickets. People can purchase tickets on the day of the event for $10 each.

Tickets are currently on sale at the Coliseum box office, Ticketmaster, by phone at 608-255-4646, online at Ticketmaster or at www.frankproductions.com, or at several businesses in the State Street area.

Participating businesses are designated with special multicolored posters with the Freakfest logo and the words "Freakfest Tickets Available Here."

The following businesses are selling advance tickets for the event:

Mallatt Pharmacy & Costume, 3506 Monroe St.
University Book Store, 711 State St.
Knuckleheads, 550 State St.
Lands' End, 411 State St.
B-Side Records, 436 State St.
Strictly Discs, 1900 Monroe St.
Goodwill, 651 State St.
Chin's Asia Fresh, 422 State St.
Clary’s Popcorn, State Street
Paciugo, State Street
State Street Cash Mart, State Street
Dobra Tea, State Street

Patrons can look for posters in business windows featuring the Freakfest logo that say "Freakfest Tickets On Sale Here" to buy tickets in advance.

Music

Four main entertainment areas will be part of the event, with the band O.A.R. headlining Freakfest 2008.

In addition to two live music stages, this year's event will also feature a Frances Street DJ Stage and a "Freakfest Freakshow," an outdoor movie screen at Gorham Street and State Street that will show the films "Beetlejuice," "Psycho" and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" throughout the evening.

Frank Productions said there will also be several portable "stages" along State Street holding spur-of-the-moment costume contests, with the finals for the contest happening at the Frances Street DJ Stage. Organizers said a flat panel HD television and a spring break trip from STA Travel have been donated as grand prizes for the overall winner this year. Other local businesses are also donating prizes to be awarded in preliminary and final contests.

Here is the lineup for the entertainment areas:

Mountain Dew Amp/Z104 Stage (Corner of State Street and Capitol Square)

O.A.R. -- 11:50 p.m. A true college home-grown band, O.A.R have cultivated a devoted following of fans from the college rock and jam band scenes. O.A.R. (an acronym for the band's full moniker, "Of a Revolution") have transformed themselves from local Ohio State University bandmates to Billboard chartbusters and headliners at venues across America with their roots-, rock- and reggae-influenced songs.

Donavon Frankenreiter -- 10:40 p.m. A friend and label mate of Jack Johnson, Frankenreiter began surfing at 13 years old and finally got the courage to release his mellow pop songs on Johnson's Brushfire Records in 2002.

The Hard Lessons -- 9:30 p.m. Storming onto the Detroit rock scene in 2004, the Hard Lessons breathed new life into the Detroit garage sound and eclipsed it with their own unique blend of Motown and soul and their high-energy synth- and guitar-driven style.

Thriving Ivory -- 8:30 p.m. Inspired by U2 and Coldplay, the band began playing gigs for their fellow students, as well as recording their self-funded, self-titled independent debut with Jellyfish's Chris Manning, who acted as their producer. The San Francisco quintet plays piano-driven rock music full of soaring ballads and sweeping choruses.

The Dollyrots -- 7:30 p.m. The band of Florida natives who are now based in Los Angeles cite The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, The Pixies, and Green Day as influences for their sound, which infuses bubblegum pop with a punk attitude.

WISC-TV/My Madison TV/C3K Urban Theater Stage (Gilman and State Street)

Natty Nation -- 12:15 p.m. Madison's own favorite reggae band is releasing a new CD and starts a national tour at this year's Freakfest.

Awesome Car Funmaker -- 11 p.m. The self-described pop glam band has honed a unique sound and gained themselves a substantial fan base in their hometown of Madison.

The Box Social -- 9:45 p.m. Local champions of the alternative pop rock scene, the four-piece plays high-energy power-pop and puts on a polished stage show.

Blueheels -- 8:45 p.m. Formed in Neenah and now based in Madison, the band plays rock music with a tinge of twang.

The Mighty Short Bus -- 7:30 p.m. This Madison-based band plays Southern rock.

Frances Street DJ Stage

DJ Will Calder -- 8:30 to 12:30 p.m. A favorite during Milwaukee Pridefest with residencies at La Cage and other hot dance clubs in the area, DJ Will Calder also founded Web-based ipartyradio.com.

Freakfest Costume Contest Finals will be held at 11 p.m.

Freakfest Freakshow (Gorham Street and State Street)

"Beetlejuice" -- 8 p.m. Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis and Winona Ryder star in this spooky classic.

"Psycho" -- 9:35 p.m. The original 1960 classic, regarded by many as the best horror film ever made.

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show" -- 11:30 p.m. A Regional late-night cast will be performing live while the movie plays, and all are welcome to participate.

Food

Food vendors will be selling food/beverages in the 800 block of State Street, near the UW's Library Mall, on the day of the event. Food vendors include: Insomnia Cookies, I'm Here, Natural Juice, Sabores Latinos, Rasta Pasta and LMNO Pies.

Parking

According city officials, parking will be restricted in certain areas around State Street.

Portion of East Mifflin Street, North Carroll Street, Wisconsin Avenue, North Henry Street, West Gorham Street, West Johnson Street, West Gillman Street, North Lake Street and North Broom Street will be declared no parking zones.

For more information about no parking zones, visit the city's Alternate Routes/No Parking Areas Map (PDF Format).

There are six public parking ramps in the immediate State Street area. They are:

State Street Capitol Ramp
Address: 214 N. Carroll St.
Located between Dayton and Johnson and Carroll and State
State Street Campus Ramp
Address: 430 N. Frances St. and 415 N. Lake St.
Located between University and State and Lake and Frances
Overture Center Ramp
Address: 318 W. Mifflin St.
Located between Dayton and Mifflin and Henry and Broom
Brayton Lot
Address: 1 South Butler St.
Located between East Washington and Main
Government East
Address: 215 S. Pinckney St.
Located between Doty and Wilson
Capitol Square North
Address: 218 East Mifflin St.
Located between Webster and Butler

City officials said that nearby Buckeye Lot will be closed. It is located at:

Buckeye Lot
Address: 214 W. Gorham St.
Located between Gilman and Gorham and Carroll and State.

For more information about parking, visit the city's Parking Information.

Taxis

Three taxis stands will available around the State Street area, according to city officials.

Transportation Information

Police recommend following Highway 12 (Beltline) to John Nolen Drive, exit 263., and then take the exit for Broom Street, which leads to State Street.

Authorities recommend attendees use taxis and public transportation as parking will be very limited. Officials said to expect schedule and stop changes due to closing of State Street.

Madison Metro officials announced several bus routes will detour around the downtown area starting for the event.

For the latest information, please visit Madison Metro.

Bike Information

Madison police will remove all bikes left on State Street bike racks before the event. They will also remove all bike racks in the 500 and 600 blocks of State Street.

Police Safety Recommendations

No weapons including fake weapons or ones as part of your costume. Dangerous or inappropriate items, as determined by the police, will be confiscated.
Those consuming alcohol in the establishments must be age 21 and have photo identification. Out-of-state residents will need two forms of identification.
No alcohol is allowed on public property including streets, sidewalks, alleyways or in vehicles.

Glass Free Zone

A "glass free zone" will be in effect in the State Street area from 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 to 6 a.m. on Nov. 1, and from 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 1 to 6 a.m. on Nov. 2.

For a map of the glass free zone area, click here (PDF Format).