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How Freakfest laid unruly Halloween celebrations to rest (with slideshow)

The last time Halloween fell on a Friday was in 2003, and by the time that weekend was over, thousands of late-night revelers had turned State Street into a mob scene, downtown business windows were smashed, and police broke out pepper spray to tame the drunken, costumed crowd.

The good news for Madison this year: This isn’t Halloween anymore. This is Freakfest.