Hundreds of people flocked to Franklin Street on Friday to celebrate Halloween in Chapel Hill.
The college town has been a popular spot for both residents and students to celebrate the holiday. In previous years, authorities have shut down streets for public safety, but for the second-straight year, they did not.
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“It's gonna get weird real quick, and that's what we want,” said Garry Dobson, team lead for the Tar Heel Team Store. “I have seen the devil today, I've seen Leatherface scooping ice cream, and I've seen Michael Myers go to the hemp shop, so it should be a really fun, interesting evening.”
Businesses along Franklin Street told WRAL News that they see a big boom each year from the people visiting on the holiday.
Several businesses attributed the boom this year to Halloween falling on a Friday to kick off the weekend.
“The last couple of year’s when it’s been on a Wednesday or a random day of the week, it’s been a bit harder, but it being on a Friday, and it’s a beautiful day, I just feel like everyone’s been really lively this year,” said Kristen Flucher, manager at Chapel Hill staple Sup Dogs.
Some businesses, like Cosmic Cantina, tried something new, with a DJ and a party.
“We just moved to this location about a year and a couple of months ago, so we used to be a hole in the wall, but now we’re a streetfront location,” said Yeshua Sanchez, general manager for Cosmic Cantina. “We're really looking to become a place where people don't just come before and after the party, but a place where people come and socialize.”
While they were not blocking roads for safety, the Chapel Hill Police Department was patrolling the area and promoting alcohol safety, which included educating people and watching for violations.