Halloween 2007 was a scary, scary night in North Carolina. About 82,000 people gathered on the overcrowded streets of Chapel Hell, err, Hill.
But the nightmare is coming to an end as spending Halloween on Franklin Street is falling out of favor.
Last year, the Town of Chapel Hill made the decision to only allow residents, students of UNC-Chapel Hill and their guests to roam Franklin Street to reduce crime and cost. Also, Chapel Hill did not have park and ride shuttles like years before, making it difficult for outsiders to participate in the festivities.
Hillsborough Street has usurped Franklin Street’s title as the number one college campus to go to on Halloween, at least for N.C. State’s own students.
Last year about 6,500 students attended the Haunted Hillsborough Hike, which attendees would walk up and down Hillsborough Street, visiting different businesses and restaurants. The year before about 2,500 people participated in the Hike.
Though 6,500 is a far cry from 82,000, some local business owners like the smaller number and don’t want Hillsborough Street to replicate Franklin Street.
“People might tend to see Hillsborough Street as a new Franklin Street … I definitely don’t want it to be Franklin Street. But a lot of people are coming from outside [of the University] last year and this year,” Keith Getchell, manager of Two Guys Restaurant, said.
One aspect of the Haunted Hike that sets it apart from Halloween on Franklin Street is that it supports having fun while having a philanthropic message behind it at the same time.
“Spook Hunger is another great opportunity to raise awareness on hunger issues on campus. N.C. State has made a commitment to work to raise awareness of hunger issues … We like to have a good time, but we also love to serve the community, “Student Body President Jim Ceresnak said.
Student Government is hosting its annual canned food drive called Spook Hunger. SG is collecting canned food in the Brickyard all week, and they will also be selling wristbands and T-shirts that will get students discounts at five businesses on Hillsborough Street.
The discounts can also be used during the Haunted Hillsborough Hike, according to Ceresnak.
AT&T is sponsoring a dunk tank in the Brickyard today and Thursday to help raise money for Spook Hunger, and Ceresnak said he volunteered to get dunked.
The food and money that is collected will go toward Raleigh Urban Ministries.
Despite being a growing event and having great intentions behind it as well, the Haunted Hillsborough Hike has a few obstacles in its way this year.
Massive construction on Hillsborough Street has resulted in narrowing it down to a two-way street and ripping up sidewalks on the University’s side of Hillsborough Street. This means less walking space than last year and more crowding, especially for people wearing bulky costumes.
Trip Lovette, manager of Melvin’s Hamburgers, said the City of Raleigh is not going to shut down Hillsborough Street but will instead put cement barricades on the sidewalks to prevent people from drifting into the roadways.
Rain is in the forecast on Halloween, making it even harder to attract possible hikers.
But despite the construction and foul weather, business owners on Hillsborough Street are staying optimistic about this year’s turnout for the Hike.
Several businesses are staying open later than usual and offering food and drink specials to lure in hikers.
El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant is staying open later, as long as there is a crowd.
“We will stop serving food around nine and open the bar at about 10 and turn the music up loud on Saturday. We will offer drink specials. We will probably close at one or two, depending on how late the people stay and how many people there are,” Juan Lopez, assistant manager of El Rodeo, said.
Getchell said Two Guys Restaurant will have specials on pizza and draft beers on Halloween.
Sylvio Sestito, owner of Sylvio’s Pizza, is also offering specials Halloween night and has a different perspective on the construction on Hillsborough Street.
“We will stay open until two because we can’t sell alcohol after two. We will have a special on beer and pizza: $4, one slice of pizza and a domestic beer. It looks like it should be good this year, and for one reason: Hillsborough Street is perfect for Halloween, because it looks really scary,” Sestito said.
Getchell said the event is a growing tradition that could be beneficial for businesses on Hillsborough Street.
“There’s a lot more worry out there than what people should be concerned about. With events like this, there’s always going to be trouble and mayhem going on. But it’s not as much trouble as people make it out to be. In a sense, it is a innocent thing. It’s a tradition that people are trying to build on, and it’s a good thing for Hillsborough Street,” Getchell said.
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Alternatives
The Haunted Hillsborough Hike is going to be one of the biggest events in Raleigh on Halloween, but here are some other events that are going on in and around the capital Saturday.
Ken’s Korny Corn maze is located in Garner. It has more than 2.5 miles of paths in a six-acre corn field. It opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. Flashlights are required after 6 p.m. The cost is $10.
Though Global Village Coffee company will not be open for the Haunted Hillsborough Hike, the shop is still celebrating Halloween by having an open mic night Thursday. Those wearing costumes will receive free small lattes. Global Village is also participating in Student Government’s Spook Hunger and will offer a 5 percent discount for those who have wristbands or T-shirts.
The Matthews House in Cary is having a Halloween Bash from 7:30 until 11:55 p.m. There will have a DJ, food and a cash bar.
WQDR 94.7 will have a Halloween Harvest Ball at City Limits featuring three bands and are offering a $1,000 prize for the best costume. The cover charge will be $10.
The annual Oakwood Lantern Walk is a family-oriented event that explores Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh and looks into the bloody past of the Civil War. There will be guides in period attire and carrying lanterns, and actors will perform skits of events from the Civil War. The first tour begins at 6 p.m. and each tour lasts an hour. The tour costs $6 and is family friendly
The Oxford in downtown Raleigh is hosting a “Halloweeniversary Celebration with a costume contest. The best group costume will receive $500. The winner of a pumpkin carving contest will receive a $100 gift card. There will also be a screaming contest.
WKNC will present a live broadcast of the “War of the World’s from 7 to 8 p.m. Listen to 88.1 FM or visit wknc.org/listen.
Globe is hosting a party with the themes of Thriller and Monster Mash featuring drink specials and a costume contest. There is no cover charge. The party starts at 10 p.m. and lasts until 2 a.m.
Local DJs are throwing a party at Fourteen in downtown Raleigh. There is a $100 prize for best costume. The party starts at 10 p.m.
sources: wknc.org, visitraleigh.com
