The Town of Chapel Hill observes Halloween only on Oct. 31, and does not deviate from the celebration date, no matter what day of the week it falls. This year, Halloween falls on a Monday night. In expectation of the crowds that come to downtown Chapel Hill, Franklin Street will close at 9 p.m. and be reopened at 11:30 p.m.
Homegrown Halloween will continue for its fourth year. The shared effort among the Town, University and Downtown businesses aims to return Halloween on Franklin Street to its roots as a small town community gathering and to reduce crowd sizes.
“Because this year’s Halloween is on Monday, our message this year is one of moderation,” said Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt. “People have school and work in the morning, so have a good time, but leave early and celebrate responsibly. And, as in the last 3 years, this event is a Chapel Hill event. We are not rolling out the welcome mat for folks from outside Chapel Hill.”
In the past, the event has attracted an enormous crowd (upwards of 80,000 in 2007). Confined in the downtown area, this large gathering presents many public safety concerns related to personal and property crime, crowd panic and large scale civil disorders. Additional concerns focus on alcohol poisoning and gang-related violence. All of which spills over onto the University campus and adjacent neighborhoods.
The Chapel Hill public safety, and public works and parks and recreation team is experienced with managing many large scale crowd events in our downtown. Public safety officials in Chapel Hill are mindful that even the best laid plans cannot guard completely against crowd surges and possible disaster. Despite having many contingencies, they will be the first to say that safety cannot be assured.
Once again, the plan this year is to restrict traffic access to downtown Chapel Hill through lane and street closures starting. There will be no bus shuttles although Safe Ride buses will operate for UNC-Chapel Hill students. Alcohol checkpoints will be in place at the event, and DWI enforcement will also take place with cooperation from the NC Highway Patrol. The Town will work with downtown bar and restaurant owners to restrict alcohol sales after 1 a.m. Franklin Street will reopen to regular traffic at midnight. All ABC permittees among the bars and restaurants in downtown Chapel Hill will not permit customers to enter or re-enter after 1 a.m.
Because Homegrown Halloween on Franklin Street is geared to a local audience, the following restrictions are in place:
- Restricted access to downtown through lane and street closures
- No special event park and ride bus shuttles
- Parking will be essentially unavailable downtown
- Police plan to begin reopening Franklin Street at 11:30 p.m.
- Chapel Hill Transit will run its usual bus routes although some will be rerouted due to the traffic diversion plan. The Safe Ride bus routes normally in place on the weekends will be available to transport community members and UNC students away from downtown.
- Downtown bars and restaurants will close their doors at 1 a.m. to new patrons. They also will charge a minimum $5 cover charge to patrons not attending private events. In addition, downtown convenience stores that sell alcohol will either close their doors or stop selling alcohol at 1 a.m.
As always, there will be little to NO PARKING available close to downtown, and there will be no place for charter buses to drop off or pick up passengers. Charter buses entering the downtown Chapel Hill area will be directed by law enforcement officers to the outskirts of Town prior to dropping off any passengers. There will also be no parking in the neighborhoods adjacent to downtown. Access to neighborhoods will be limited by barricades and police personnel at the roads leading into them. This will begin early in the evening.
Prohibited Items:
Costume accessories that look like weapons; Weapons; Alcoholic Beverages; Glass Bottles; Paint; Fireworks and Explosives; Flammable Substances; Animals; Coolers
Downtown Residents
The Town of Chapel Hill will make every effort to keep people who are attending the event from parking in your neighborhood. Access to your neighborhood will be limited by barricades and police personnel at the roads leading into your neighborhood. This will begin early in the evening.
- Residents of the neighborhood will be able to drive in and out of the enclosed area. Tell the officer at the barricade where you live.
- Your guests will also be able to enter and leave. They will need to tell the officer at the barricade exactly where they are going.
- Illegally parked vehicles (even of residents, guests) will be ticketed and towed.
- Traffic will be congested and getting past the barricades may be a slow process. We recommend that you plan accordingly.
- Trash that would usually be collected on Tuesday will be collected on Wednesday, Nov. 2.
Transit Changes
Chapel Hill Transit (CHT) will end service early on the D, J, NS and NU routes and EZ Rider to accommodate the Halloween celebration on Franklin Street. The following schedule modifications will be in effect:
• D Route will end at 8:43 p.m. at the Sagebrook Apartments
• J Route will end at 8:56 p.m. at the Rock Creek Apartments
• NS Route will end at 8:39 p.m. at Eubanks Park and Ride
• NU Route will end at 8:40 p.m. at RR Lot
• EZ Rider service will end at 8:30 p.m.
All other routes will operate on regular routes and published schedules, although minor delays may occur due to increased traffic.
Safe Ride buses will operate from 11 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., along detoured routes. Safe Ride is a service funded by the UNC-Chapel Hill Student Government for the safety of students. Safe Rides will not serve the Downtown/Franklin Street area.
• Safe T – pick up and drop off from Chapel Hill Town Hall
• Safe J – pick up and drop off from Passport Motors (Franklin Street at Graham Street)
• Safe G – pick up and drop off from Columbia Street at Sitterson Hall across from Carolina Inn
Please be advised that due to road closures and traffic pattern changes, CHT may be unable to operate published schedules for these routes.
There will be no bus shuttles operating from park and ride lots to the Halloween celebration.
For additional information, including maps and schedules for Safe Rides, please visit CHT’s website at www.chtransit.org or call 919-969-4900 (press 1).
Halloween on Franklin Street by the Numbers (2010)
Event Management Cost – $191,031
Estimated # of attendees – 35,000
# of police officers – 329
# of parking monitors – 100
# of alcohol overdoses – 6
# of porta jons – 53
# of light towers – 16
