There was a time when Carbondale’s Halloween was the stuff of legend.
The Strip -- a row of shops and bars along Illinois Avenue iconic to Southern Illinois University alumni -- roared with music, costumes, and a brand of chaotic joy that attracted national attention and lifelong memories for students in the 1970s and 1980s. During the ‘90s, fun boiled over into frenzy, as unruly crowds of people began damaging property downtown, and the atmosphere surrounding Halloween soured in the minds of event goers, city officials, and community members.
By the turn of the millennium, the city and university were actively working to suppress any activity on the Strip in the lead-up to Halloween. Many students and citizens carried on the torch, celebrating “Unofficial Halloween”, introducing a new tradition that still lives today. In 2018, the City of Carbondale officially welcomed back Carbondale Halloween through a plethora of family-friendly events, working with several community partners throughout October. Now, after years of cultivating unique, diverse experiences, Carbondale Halloween has evolved into a fresh new era, honoring notes of Halloween past, while encompassing a vibrant future that is safe and welcoming for all.
Reimagining, Not Reliving
This October, the ghosts of Carbondale’s most famous celebration continue to rise, with more intention than ever on harkening back to the event’s halcyon days. On Friday, October 24, as part of the university’s 2025 homecoming celebration, the SIU Alumni Association, City of Carbondale, and other partners will host the first official Halloween Homecoming Music Street Festival, an event designed not to relive the past but to foster its new era.
From College to Elm, South Illinois Avenue will shut down and transform into a festival corridor featuring two stages of live music, food trucks, beer tents, vendors, games, and costumes galore.
“We’re bringing back the energy that made Carbondale and SIU a destination,” said SIU Alumni Association Executive Director Molly Hudgins. “But we’re doing it differently— this event is not just about reliving the past. Sure, we want alumni seeing Carbondale the way they remember it; more importantly, we want the students of today experiencing the music, community, and fun that makes the city a great college town and such a unique place to live and learn.”
Last year, the Association, Carbondale, and partners brought an estimated crowd of 5,500 to shut down The Strip for the farewell performance of the Jungle Dogs. By all metrics, the event was a resounding success. Moreover, it proved the community was ready to reclaim the streets in a celebration that carried on in the vein of the town’s traditions.
More Than a Party—A Cultural Revival
The festival is just one note in a larger symphony of revitalization. The City and SIU are working hand-in-hand to bring live music, nightlife, and the arts back to the forefront of the college experience. One standout example is the reopening of the iconic Hangar 9, spearheaded by SIU alums Scott Moller ‘85 and Andrew Perlmutter ‘00. Their vision -- a dynamic music venue, beer garden, and “third space” for the community – opened in August with a full roster of entertainment planned for the fall season.
We are incredibly excited to sponsor this event and bring great music to an even larger audience," Moller said. "Hangar 9 is known for its legendary indoor stage, and now we're helping to bring that same energy literally outside our front door with two stages. It's going to be a special and festive evening for everyone."
This new Halloween Music Street Festival is the product of that momentum, with partnerships from Hangar 9, Carbondale Main Street, River Radio Group, Koerner Distributing, and the SIU Student Programming Council. Sponsors, artists, and local businesses have stepped forward, not just to support an event, but to help carry on a tradition.
From Folklore to Future
For alumni who remember the original Halloween street fests, this is a nod to those wild weekends—minus the chaos that led to their decline. For students, it’s a chance to connect with their local community while making those memories that last a lifetime. For Carbondale, it’s an opportunity to get involved, show up, and show out in true Carbondale fashion.
Dena Haun, Carbondale Tourism and Special Events Coordinator, says Carbondale has long been home to a cherished local music scene, but with the development of the new Downtown Entertainment and Events Plaza, and the introduction from the City of the “Off the Rails” Concert Series in 2021, hosting local and national touring bands, investing time and energy into live entertainment, it is ever growing as a nationally centralized music hub.
Carbondale and SIU have a rich history of intertwined culture. Community leaders foster and uplift this longstanding relationship to strengthen our thriving community for residents and students.
“SIU and Carbondale are always synergistic when working together, and that is apparent through events like these,” Haun said. “When Carbondale and SIU hosted over 14,000 guests for the 2024 Eclipse, we found we could handle just about anything. By pulling together our assets and inspiring community members to get involved, we can create infrastructures and systems that support growth and prosperity for community events to evolve and grow for years to come!”
One Night, Many Ripples
The Halloween Homecoming Music Street Festival kicks off at 3:00 p.m. and runs until 10 p.m., with music, food, and activities for all ages. But organizers see it as more than a single evening of fun—it’s a marker of where Carbondale is at: a place where music thrives, students stay engaged, and alumni want to return.