Next Halloween, the elected guardians of Madison might try to eliminate rowdy crowds by closing off interstate access to the city or putting up gates on State Street.

Wall off the city! Barbarians at the gates!

Next Halloween, the elected guardians of Madison might try to eliminate rowdy crowds by closing off interstate access to the city or putting up gates on State Street.

These measures seem a little extreme, and ultimately, running a blockade would prove pointless. Imagine the ruffians swimming across Lake Mendota, emerging from the surf at the north end of Lake Street wearing dripping t-shirts emblazoned: “I infiltrated Madison on Halloween!” Curses, foiled again.