Homegrown Halloween campaign to trim down numbers on Franklin

A man dressed in a police uniform with a toy horse does his part to help clear Franklin Street of pedestrians Friday Night.

Town leaders have a goal to eventually decrease Halloween celebration participants to between 10,000 and 15,000 people — less than the undergraduate student body at UNC.

The number of people on Halloween on Franklin Street last year went from about 80,000 to near 35,000 because of the town’s Homegrown Halloween campaign, according to a town press release.

“Even when you’re in a crowd of 35,000, that’s a lot of people, especially in our downtown area,” said Chapel Hill police Chief Brian Curran. “Over the next few years, we would like to trim it down.”

Curran said 10,000 to 15,000 is a reasonable crowd.

“This is a local event,” Mayor Kevin Foy said. “If you can walk to Halloween, you’re invited.

“If you can’t, don’t come.”

Town leaders are citing a new reason to keep Halloween celebrations modest: the spread of the H1N1 virus.

“Anytime you have a large gathering of people, and there’s an influenza-like virus, there is a risk of spreading that virus,” said Orange County Health Director Rosemary Summers in an interview.

“If they’re not feeling well, but there’s a big party, a student will be more likely to ignore the symptoms of not feeling well and go ahead and go to the party.

“If they’re sick and it’s class, they’ll probably stay home.”

Incidents from previous years that inspired the decision to downsize include fist fights and alcohol poisonings, Curran said.

“It’s a very busy night for the emergency department at UNC Hospitals,” Curran said.

Like last year, access to Franklin Street by car will be extremely limited, Curran said. Alcohol checkpoints will also be placed around the perimeter of the celebration.

Officers will check people for alcohol upon entering, and N.C. Highway Patrol will be patrolling for DWI violations.

Limitations on businesses will include requiring downtown bars and restaurants to have at least a $5 cover charge and to close their doors to new patrons at 1 a.m.

Steve Woodham, the owner of Goodfellows and Four Corners, has celebrated 15 Halloweens on Franklin Street and has benefited from the changes.

“Last year was one of the best Halloween experiences I’ve ever had,” he said.

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.