Chapel Hill officials prep for dual celebration weekend

With Homecoming taking place the Saturday before Halloween and classes looming the morning after, this year’s celebrations could expand to more than one night.

But town officials said they expect crowds on Saturday only for the game, and this year’s “Homegrown Halloween” celebration will be confined to Sunday.

“We’ve never celebrated Halloween on any day other than the 31st,” said Chapel Hill spokeswoman Catherine Lazorko. “That’s one message we’re trying to get out.”

She said she thinks Franklin Street will be busy Saturday only because it’s Homecoming weekend.

“I think it’s more fun to celebrate Halloween on October 31st,” Lazorko said. “But I’m sure there will be Halloween parties and other celebrations on a private scale on Saturday,” she said.

Freshman Jennifer Linkous said she will be one of Charlie’s Angels for Halloween and plans to dress up Saturday night.

“There will be a lot of people Saturday just because it’s Homecoming, but I feel like people will still want to go out on Sunday as well,” Linkous said.

And she said she doesn’t think people will leave at 11:30 p.m. Sunday, the time town officials said they’ll start clearing the crowd.

“I mean, things don’t normally get started until 11:30 p.m.,” she said. “It’s Halloween on Franklin Street. It’s a tradition.”

Police Chief Brian Curran said his department will have just a few more officers patrolling Saturday night because of Homecoming.

“We’re planning on keeping the street open,” Curran said. “If people start to get rowdy then they will be arrested, and we don’t want to have to do that.”

He said police officers do not expect people to come out on the street Saturday to celebrate the holiday.

“We always celebrate Halloween on Halloween,” he said.

Senior Whitney Wilson will be celebrating Halloween on Franklin Street for the sixth time.

She said she will not dress up on Saturday as she won’t be in town, but she doesn’t expect Monday classes to affect the Halloween turnout.

“No matter what day it is, it doesn’t matter,” she said. “Students will drink regardless.”

Sophomore Arthur Iannacone said he thinks people will leave the street on Halloween but go to parties to celebrate afterward.

“Saturday night will be busy but I really think Sunday will be the night,” he said.

Iannacone said he will only celebrate on Saturday if everyone else does.

“Halloween is really a group event.”

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.