Thirteen businesses on Hillsborough Street are coming together for the first ever Haunted Hillsborough Hike, starting at Sadlack’s Heroes at 8 p.m. and ending at East Village Bar & Grill around 2 a.m.
The Halloween Hike was created by Alan Lovette, owner of Melvin’s Hamburgers, and Matthew Potter, a senior in political science.
“We were basically trying to conceive a way to rejuvenate Hillsborough Street and thought it would be fun to do something to celebrate Halloween,” Potter said.
According to Lovette, the event will be similar to the Hillsborough Hike held at the end of each semester — but with a Halloween twist.
“Everyone can expect a scary scene in the area in front of North Hall,” Lovette said.
Eric Rieger, manager of The Farmhouse Pizza and Plates, said there will be two bands, the Old Regime and Doco, playing at Farmhouse around 9 p.m.
“We are open and ready for a large crowd,” Rieger said.
Along with a haunted scene and bands, Lovette said visitors to the hike can enjoy longer business hours from all of the participating businesses — which will be marked as such with a scarecrow in front of each establishment.
According to Lovette, throughout the night each establishment and judges along Hillsborough Street will evaluate costumes and give out prizes such as chairs, hammocks and grills.
The judges and participating establishments will award a $500 prize for the best costume at 1:45 a.m. in East Village.
“It’s time to bring new traditions to an old traditional neighborhood for N.C. State,” Lovette said. “We feel like Hillsborough Street is the best place for it, because students can walk to it and won’t have to worry about driving anywhere.”
Student Body President Bobby Mills said even students living off campus may not have to drive to Hillsborough Street to participate.
According to Mills, Student Government has paid for a charter bus which will run every 30 to 45 minutes from 10:30 p.m. to 2:45 a.m.
The bus will pick up at University House, University Suites, University Woods and Village Green apartments, and will drop students at the corner of Hillsborough Street and Pullen Road, and every major block thereafter up to Gorman Street.
“Having the bus is important because: one, it helps promote Haunted Hillsborough Hike, and two, it provides safe transportation to the event to cut down on drunk driving,” Mills said.
According to Potter, Student Government has also been active in the publicity of the event, creating fliers and chalking around the campus.
Carrie McGaha, a freshman in communications, changed her plans for Halloween after hearing about the Haunted Hillsborough Hike.
“I really thought about going to Franklin Street, but I want to support the local businesses, and I won’t have to worry about driving anywhere,” McGaha said.
Potter said he has no expectations when comparing these Halloween festivities to those held at UNC-Chapel Hill and East Carolina University.
“Obviously we’re not expecting it to be as big as those two parties because this is the first year we’re having it,” he said. “But hopefully after doing it for a few years, it will draw more people and become a large event.”
“I think it has a lot of potential to be really good. We have over 30,000 students [at N.C. State]. There’s no reason why this street shouldn’t be a major party.”
