A popular Madison block party is this weekend – and with it, come exuberant crowds and some safety concerns.
First held in 1969 as a Vietnam War protest, the Mifflin Street Block Party has shifted over the decades, growing into an annual event of college kids and other partygoers letting loose as the weather starts to warm.
Thousands of people flock to the Madison campus neighborhood each year for the party. But a legacy of rambunctious crowds and underage drinking leads local law enforcement and University of Wisconsin-Madison leaders to put precautions in place.
Here’s what to know about the annual event:
What’s the history of the Mifflin Street Block Party?
The first Mifflin Street Block Party was May 3, 1969, held as a street protest against the Vietnam War. It led to a standoff between protesters and police in riot gear that resulted in several arrests and injuries.
The event continued, linked to the hippie movement of the ’60s and ’70s. After the Vietnam War, it began to evolve into a general celebration without its political connotations.
Through the decades, it has at times had an official sponsor, and at other times, like the present day, the party has been unsanctioned.
Social media posts of the block party in recent years depict streets filled with a sea of people dressed in Wisconsin red.
Over the last decade, city officials have at times called for an end to the party, citing safety concerns. In 2023, the Madison Police Department’s then-Central District captain of police, Michael Hanson, said he was “very serious” about finding ways to stop Mifflin, after more than 40 people were arrested for alcohol-related offenses.
During the 2024 block party, more than 80 people were arrested, a first-floor porch collapsed and partygoers flipped a car over.
When is the Mifflin Street Block Party?
Mifflin is typically held on the last Saturday in April – this year, April 25.
It takes place on Mifflin Street – hence the name – and surrounding areas. Attendees primarily gather in backyards and porches for the daytime partying.
How do law enforcement and UW-Madison officials respond to safety concerns?
Due to massive crowd sizes and concerns for underage drinking and related behaviors, the city of Madison and UW-Madison officials annually put precautions in place.
At a news conference ahead of this weekend’s festivities, Matt Tucker, director of the City of Madison’s Building Inspection Division, warned of dangers of collapsing balconies.
“Although our office visually inspects from the public sidewalk, we are unable to guarantee the structural viability of the balconies,” he said. “Many of the balconies in these areas are old. They get over-occupied. It’s a great concern for us.”
The Madison Police Department didn’t respond to an interview request but WMTV-TV reported that the department plans to send around 150 officers to Mifflin on April 25, and will get assistance from the UW-Madison Police Department and the Dane County Sheriff’s Office.
University of Wisconsin-Madison Housing released a statement April 20 advising students of increased safety measures in place “due to the nature of this event, the behavior students engage in, and its proximity to several residence halls.” Among them will be additional staffing and guest restrictions.
It also advised students against consuming alcohol – particularly in BORGs, or “Black Out Rage Gallons” – which have led to increased rates of alcohol poisoning.
Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @ArseneauKelli.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: When is the Mifflin Street Block Party 2026? It’s a Madison tradition
Reporting by Kelli Arseneau, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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