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The Daily Tar Heel

Homegrown Halloween draws 32,000 to downtown Chapel Hill

Approximately 32,000 people gathered on Franklin Street to celebrate Halloween Friday night — an increase from the 30,000 who attended in 2013.

Police pressed charges against 13 people at the event. The charges included possession of marijuana, carrying a concealed weapon and assaulting a firefighter, among others, according to a press release from the Chapel Hill Police Department.

There were 29 calls to Orange County Emergency Services, and the majority were alcohol-related, the release states.

Lt. Joshua Mecimore, spokesman for the Chapel Hill Police Department, said 307 police officers, 48 EMS workers and 78 firefighters were on hand for the event.

The department was expecting the celebration to draw a larger crowd than usual due to the holiday falling on a Friday this year, Mecimore said.

This year's event drew the largest crowd since 2010, when 35,000 people attended. 

“We knew that was a likelihood,” Mecimore said.

“Most people are just coming and having a good time. That’s what we asked for.”

city@dailytarheel.com

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