'insane crazy riot? It's not like that at all'

By Michelle Turcotte


The tagline printed on tickets for Freakfest 2007 – “Enter at Your Own Risk” - would have perhaps been more prophetic for Halloweens past, as the theme of this year’s event seemed to be controlled chaos rather than riotous disorder.


“Honestly, I expected more people, said UW freshman Jamie around 9:30 p.m. “There's more open space than I expected. Everyone makes it sound like Halloween is insane crazy riots, but it's not like that at all."


“You're always told you could barely walk on State Street, but it's not true at all," agreed her friend Jenna, also a UW freshman and first time Freakfest participant.


Early in the evening revelers appeared to follow the old mantra of arriving fashionable late as the early crowd was sparse and lines at the gates were non-existent. Costume-clad revelers trickled onto the grounds in groups of three and four.


Security at the Henry/State Streets entrance was also sparse when the gates opened at 7:30, with participants strolling right onto State Street sans ticket check, and one gentleman unicycling his way past the gates. Security guards at the intersection began checking tickets around 7:45 p.m, but failed to frisk participants upon entry at that time.


“They’re doing a simple search for glass and weapons" said Joel Plant in the Mayor’s Office. When asked about the security at Henry and State, he said he "can't speak directly to that, but it’s discretionary security, if it's very busy they won't be doing the checks."


Security was noticeably tighter and lines were much longer at the Library Mall entrance a half hour later. Guards systematically checked partygoers upon entrance. One woman was not convinced of the security measure’s effectiveness, noting to her friend, “What did that do? He got my pits, my hips, and that’s it.”


Ticket lines stretched down Lake Street for most of the night. Security at the blocked streets remained tight.


The scene on State Street was animated, with a giant bass mingling with the pope, to a gentleman walking the streets dressed as Barack Obama flanked by security to cheers of “Obama! Obama!” to two guys dressed as the Twin Towers complete with planes crashing into them with “Guiliani ‘08” emblazoned across their backs, often receiving taunts of “now that’s just sick” by passersby.


Joggers donning large afro wigs jogged up and down the street. A group of six young men decked out in coconut bras and hula skirts entertained the crowd, who dubbed them the “hula guys.” Penguins, nuns and mermaids traveled in a pack down the street.


A common costume included a strategically placed gift-wrapped box, a novelty made popular by a Justin Timberlake Saturday Night Live Skit. Also popular were people dressed as kegs, Jack Sparrow, and gentlemen dressed as “mammogram machines” with questionable credentials.


Even the perennial Library Mall preachers showed up for the festivities, with signs saying “God is not tame” and “Trust Jesus,” and preaching to mostly oblivious costumed passersby.


Lines for entry into most bars were long, particularly for State Street Brats. Many café and restaurant windows featured patrons who turned their chairs to face the windows, securing ringside seats for the Halloween antics.

An amplified robotic voice would periodically remind revelers to “have a safe and enjoyable night,” and remind that “open intoxicants are prohibited” on the street to laughs and jeers from the crowd.


“I’ve been here before it was ‘Freakfest,’ said 22-year-old UW-Whitewater student Shelby Helmbrecht around 11:45 p.m. outside the Orpheum Theater. “It’s less crowded, but I think I’m OK with that.”


“It’s OK, it’s less trouble,” said 21-year-old Jessica Anderson, “but it’s not as exciting.”


“I probably won’t stay much later, I like to be able to see the ground,” added Helmbrecht referencing the growing crowd.


The State Street crowd was noticeably thicker around midnight, making it necessary to dodge the likes of wings, tails, swords, and presents left behind by police horses, when navigating the streets. Even as the crowd got fuller and the partygoers appeared drunker, overall order remained.


Revelers were more likely to be seen high-fiving officers than taunting them, or petting their horses. Angry participants were only abundant when the event was shutdown at 1:30 a.m. and people were no longer allowed entrance to State Street.


“I thought we lived in America, the land of the free,” exclaimed one visibly intoxicated man upon being denied entrance.

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