History of Halloween at UW-Madison

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Photos Courtesy: Badger Yearbook and University of Wisconsin Digital Collections
1961

"The Union offered something for all … pumpkin carving at Halloween …"
1979: The Wisconsin Student Association organizes the first official Halloween tradition, securing permits to sell beer to students on Library Mall.
1982: The Wisconsin Student Association spends $15,000 on this year's bash, with the city throwing in another $20,000 for clean up and security. Bands include Waves, Little Dixie, George Faber and Stronghold and Riders of the Storm. WSA also sets up six beer stands along the street.

"There has been talk of city officials wanting to curtail the traditional Halloween festival, but if the multitudes of partiers who flock to State Street every year have any say in the matter, rest assured there will never be an end to this most popular of holidays." (1983 Badger Yearbook)
“If you’ve ever had the uncontrollable urge to dress up as a chicken, experience life as a bag of jelly beans, or go out with your buddies as a six pack of Miller, Halloween eve 1982 was the night to live out your fantasy. True to tradition, the town vibrated with drunken havoc as thousands of anonymously clad masqueraders descended upon State Street for Madison’s annual Halloween bash. Whole blocks were closed off, beer flowed, rock and roll filled the air, and claustrophobic conditions prevailed as an estimated 100,000 spirited revelers stalked downtown avenues upon a carpet of broken glass and empty beer cans." - Written by Ana Tolentino (1983 Badger Yearbook)
Between 1983 and 1987, Halloween on State Street faced cold temperatures and rainy weather, limiting the crowd size. On at least one year, heavy storms prevented bands from playing.

"It’s been called an omen, a pain, a blast, but the rain continues to fall on Halloween festivities on State Street. Yet this year started off drier than last year in two respects. The rain began only as a slight drizzle instead of the torrential downpour of 1985 and WSA, the official sponsor of the party, did not sell alcohol. Party-goers could bring their own alcoholic beverages to State Street, but no booths were set up for beer sales … Officials estimate nearly 75,000 people were on State Street for Halloween." (1986 Badger Yearbook)
Through the 1990s, crowd sizes remain low enough to avoid any major problems. Student groups organize a concert on Library Mall, featuring bands like the Bosstones and Alligator Gun. In 1996, a costume ball is held in the Great Hall at Memorial Union. But the number of Halloween revelers falls to less than 5,000 a night on average.
"Halloween 2002 was a weekend that will never be forgotten in UW-Madison’s history. Celebration participants, whose behavior is typically not violent but spirited, surprised the Madison Police. Starting near the intersection of State Street and Johnson, a bottle was thrown up into the air, thus signaling the beginning of chaos. Riots broke out, causing police officers to restrain the passionate crowd using tear gas as a means of control." – by Melissa Delman (2003 Badger Yearbook)
2004: "Anyone who ever set foot on State Street on the weekend of October 31st witnessed the incredible chaos and mayhem that makes Halloween in Madison notorious. In reaction to the riots and vandalism that had occurred in previous years, the Madison Police Department worked with the university and ASM to create an environment that would be conducive for an amazing but safe Halloween experience. In an attempt to curb violent behavior and neutralize the effects of rampant alcohol consumption, ASM planned a number of events that started in the daytime and culminated in free pizza and beverages at Library Mall at midnight. Doing their part to improve the experience for everyone, the university not only donated $15,000 to ASM for food, but also agreed to split the cost of stadium style lights with the city. The lights were just one of the police and city efforts to keep things under control. Other efforts included the introduction of officers on horseback, two $16,000 light trucks which aided in encouraging people to leave State Street by 3 a.m., and the use of the University Inn." – by Vanessa de Bruijn (2005 Badger Yearbook)
2005 ended with Madison Police using horses and pepper spray to disperse the crowd of around 100,000 after the rowdy revelers.

But in 2006, the city began charging an entrance fee and blocked off entrance to State Street using barriers. Attendance was estimated at around 30,000.
2008: "With Freakfest 2008 bringing the American rock band O.A.R. to campus and with the Memorial Union hosting an alcohol-free alternative, students were offered a variety of activities on top of their own plans for Halloween weekend...2008 marked the third consecutive year the city had systemized Freakfest on State Street with gates and admission fees in hopes of controlling Halloween festivities. When the price to attend Freakfest went up a few dollars, students strove to organize an unregulated and cheaper alternative. However, after safety concerns arose, the students opted to pull the plug on the plan for this year." (2009 Badger Yearbook)
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University Frames

Here are some of the Halloween memories you shared on Facebook!

  • From Daniel Bredendick: Seeing the picture of the Pabst six-pack brings back great memories. I was there in '79 and thought that was the coolest group costume of the evening.
  • From John Sigman: Some of the greatest Halloweens of my life were spent on State Street. Always "group" costumes. One year Krishnas (dyed sheets orange - bald head wigs and finger cymbals). Another year pallbearers (constructed a casket to hold beer - a lot of beer) we bought tuxedos from Ragstock and had the best Halloween ever...first one was as a visiting HS student in 1981.
  • From Tim Carney: Halloween on State Street is what led Playboy to famously state in their article rating the greatest party schools in America "We cannot include the University of Wisconsin in this survey because it is unfair to compare amateurs with professionals!" I'm proud to have been one of those professionals!
  • From Sandra Jordan: Ah yes, and in those same years, each effort more outrageous than the next! I think the year we all went as larvae (using milk cartons for masks) kinda topped the geek love costume fun - that's when I really knew I had found my favorite nerdy friends for life!
  • From Barb Henke: Watching State Street Parade thru the window above the frozen yogurt shop (Cleary's maybe?). Favorite costumes I remember seeing were a group costume of the Walgreens logo--and the McDonald's moon head guy.
  • From Becky Duffy: Watching the annual running of the "Dunderheads" down State Street!
  • From Aleta Beckman Wilke: I lived in an apartment on State Street in '78 before the official beginning. I was on the 3rd floor trying to study for an exam the next day with all of the noise down below. It may not count, but the street was completely full of people. It was interesting watching the masses!
  • From Chip Kaufman: Real People with Sarah, Skip and Byron.
  • From Andy Bauch: Ah yes: Halloweens in Madison from 1976 through 1981...nothing but fun. Okay, except for one or two when I was working at Rocky Rocco's on Gilman (now some sushi place) where the Halloween "fun" was serving slices to drunk, costume clad fellow students...
  • From Dianma Hill: A couple of years ago there was a group of gnomes travelling State Street. They were awesome, in character, hiding behind trees (sort of) and playing leap frog. Laughed a lot with those guys.
  • From Tanya Corona: One year 3 guys dressed as a sofa knocked me down.
  • From Patrick Walsh: Won 2nd place in the costume contest on Library Mall.... then went to Bucks and won Free Drinks for a year! ala 1980.
  • From Tedd Snyder: My memory, or lost memory, from Halloween in about 1977 was of going "trick or drinking" through Cole Hall with some of my dorm-mates from Bradley Hall.
  • From Vince Schmidt: That was a CRAZY night and the start of many Madison memories. Good and bad on State Street.
  • From Sandy Allen Revolinski: Loooove State Street on Halloween! Wonderful memories!!
  • From Stacey Clay: Usually always rained on Halloween when I was there. But still fun!