In anticipation of the sixth Homegrown Halloween, Franklin Street will close at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31 and reopen at 11:30 p.m.
The Town of Chapel Hill initiated Homegrown Halloween in 2008.
On Oct. 31, numerous campus parking lots and services will be affected by Halloween operations. Streets adjacent to campus will also be affected on October 31. Consequently, students, staff and faculty should familiarize themselves with the parking and transportation plan.
Homegrown Halloween will continue for its sixth year. The shared effort among the Town, University and Downtown businesses aims to return Halloween on Franklin Street to its roots as a small-town community gathering and to reduce crowd sizes.
Campus Parking
To support the University’s regular academic function, the medical mission of UNC Hospital, and Chapel Hill’s plans, ALL parking regulations as well as several temporary parking restrictions will be in effect from 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 31 through 5 p.m. or 9 p.m. (depending on the lot) on Nov. 1.
For example, Stadium Drive parking normally requires an S4 permit Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. For Halloween, it will require a valid S4 permit from October 31 at 7:30 a.m. until Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. Any vehicle without a valid S4 permit between Thursday at 7:30 a.m. and Friday at 5 p.m. will be ticketed and possibly towed. The restriction illustrated by this example will apply to all permitted lots and all normal reserved spaces that are not already 24-hour spaces. Additionally, vehicles parked outside of marked spaces will be automatically ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.
UNC students and employees should NOT come to campus for Halloween festivities prior to 6 p.m. on Oct. 31. Guests are discouraged from coming to campus. Unless a vehicle has a valid weekday permit, there will be no place for student or employee guests to park until 6 p.m. Monday when a imited number of designated lots will open for $20 Halloween student and employee parking (see Public Safety website for details).
Vehicles parked in or along closed areas will be ticketed and towed at the expense of the owner.
Parking Control Officers and tow trucks will be on duty on campus throughout the day and evening on Oct. 31 and into the early morning hours of Nov. 1. Parking and road restrictions will be strictly enforced.
Illegally parked vehicles on campus on Halloween will be cited and towed at the expense of the owner, including vehicles parked on the sidewalks, landscape, in fire lanes, in reserved spaces, and in restricted areas, etc. Payment for the citation, the tow, and any outstanding balances owed to UNC Public Safety WILL BE REQUIRED BEFORE the vehicle will be released (towing fees range from $90 to $110 and citations range from $20 to $250). Only debit and credit cards will be accepted.
Chapel Hill Restrictions
Because Homegrown Halloween is for a local audience, the following restrictions will be in place:
• Restricted access to downtown through lane and street closures
• No special event park and ride bus shuttles
• Parking will be essentially unavailable downtown
• Police plan to begin reopening Franklin Street at 11:30 p.m.
• Chapel Hill Transit will run its usual bus routes although some will be rerouted due to the traffic diversion plan. Safe Ride bus routes normally in place on the weekends will be available to transport community members and UNC students away from downtown.
Read more from UNC’s Department of Public Safety.
Read more from the Town of Chapel Hill.
Published October 28, 2013.