In case you didn’t know it, Freakfest is canceled — again — this year.
At one point in time, the local Halloween music festival drew thousands of costume-clad visitors to State Street. In 2020, the annual event was canceled due to Covid-19 restrictions but even after rules loosened the festival was canceled again in 2021 and 2022.
The future for Freakfest is also pretty bleak — Madison Deputy Mayor Reuben Sanon told NBC15 the city has been trying to get away from the event “for many years now,” and downtown Ald. Mike Verveer said “There’s a good chance as of now that we’ve ended the Freakfest chapter of a long State Street Halloween history.”
While plenty of State Street bars will still be open for business on Halloween, here are some happenings around town to get you in a scary state of mind.
🍬 Trick or Treating
- The City of Madison’s official trick-or-treating hours are Oct. 31 from 4 - 8 p.m.
- Check out this list for other municipalities’ trick-or-treating hours.
👻 Haunted Houses
- Looking to get genuinely scared? Screamin’ Acres is the place for you.
- Take a tour of one man’s $20,000 collection of Halloween props outside of his home on Silverado Drive.
- Any Swifties out there? Check out the “sc-ERAS” tour house in Sun Prairie.
- Check out one of Madison’s own haunted places.
☠️ Places To Party
- There’s a Halloween Bar Crawl at multiple locations around town on Oct. 27.
- High Noon Saloon will host Freakin’ Halloweekend Oct. 28. This family-friendly event will have live music and a kids costume contest.
- Check out one of the many Halloween concerts happening at the Majestic: DJ Mando Halloween (Oct. 26), Emo Halloween (Oct. 27), and Boograss Ball (Oct. 28).
🎃 Further Festivities
- Hilldale will host a family-friendly Halloween celebration Oct. 29 from 3 - 5 p.m. featuring pumpkin decorating, a temporary tattoo station, music, pet costumes, and more.
- Take a hayride with Madison Parks!
- “Bob’s Burgers” pop-up at Bierock on Oct. 31.
- Dog costume parade on Monroe Street, Oct. 29! Need I say more?
- And if you can’t get enough dogs in costumes, the Boneyard is hosting a dog costume contest Oct. 29.
