More than 250 officers started patrolling the area early Thursday afternoon. Police placed bags on the parking meters at 3 p.m., letting people know not to park there. At 6 p.m., they started towing any cars that were parked on downtown Franklin Street.
As the sun set, more people in ghoulish and outlandish costumes showed their spooky spirit.
Matt Long came all the way from Maryland to look at the festivities.
"It's probably going to be the best one that I have been to," he says. "It gets pretty wild and crazy around here."
Police estimate as many as 50,000 people jammed Franklin Street; 20 people were arrested and 80 were charged with alcohol violations. The party broke up just after 2 a.m.
Last year, 10 people were arrested on various charges on Halloween night.
"As the chief, it is a bit nerve-wracking. We are always prepared for the worst-case scenario," says Chapel Hill police chief Gregg Jarvies. "We always hope that it does not happen, and it has not happened."
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