MADISON, WI – Mifflin Street transformed into a vibrant hub of student energy this past Saturday as the annual Mifflin Street Block Party took over several blocks, marking a pre-finals celebration for University of Wisconsin-Madison students. The long-standing tradition, held on the last Saturday of April, drew large crowds, making it the biggest iteration of the Mifflin Street Block Party since the pandemic.
Local authorities, led by Madison Police Central District Captain Mike Hanson, emphasized safety as the paramount concern for this year’s event. “We are looking for behaviors, safety issues, anything that draws our attention,” Hanson stated, advising attendees to “have fun, be safe, and don’t draw attention to yourself.” The Madison Police Department has been managing the Mifflin Street Block Party for 55 years, developing considerable experience in crowd management and safety protocols.
This year’s Mifflin Street Block Party followed a concerning incident in 2022 when a porch collapse injured three individuals, highlighting the potential risks associated with large gatherings. In 2024, while a porch partially collapsed again and a car was flipped, fortunately, no injuries were reported. However, over 80 arrests were made, primarily for underage drinking, according to the City of Madison, indicating the ongoing challenges in maintaining order and legal compliance during the Mifflin Street Block Party.
The Madison Police Department employs a strategy known as the “Madison Method” for crowd control at such events. This approach, honed over decades of experience with the Mifflin Street Block Party and similar gatherings, is built on six core principles:
- Upholding the constitutional rights of community members to assemble, petition, and express free speech.
- Maintaining impartiality and neutrality regarding the issues at hand.
- Fostering open communication with community members and media both before, during, and after events.
- Vigilantly monitoring events to safeguard individual rights and public safety.
- Balancing the rights of demonstrators with the broader community’s rights.
- Exercising restraint in the use of force, prioritizing the protection of people over property.
Captain Hanson noted the significant police presence, with nearly 200 officers involved in managing the event. “We want to show our presence so there is safety, but we want to build relations with people that come up to us,” he explained, emphasizing a dual approach of ensuring security while fostering positive community interactions during the Mifflin Street Block Party.
“A flipped car at the Mifflin Street Block Party, highlighting an incident amidst the festivities.”)
For many UW-Madison seniors like Erik Van Dyke and John Podlesnik, the Mifflin Street Block Party is a cherished tradition and a symbolic farewell to their college years. Van Dyke, experiencing the block party from his Mifflin Street house for the first time, remarked on the “crazy” atmosphere. Podlesnik described it as “a last hurrah,” a final opportunity for students to “celebrate, have a good time and then that will be it and then we graduate.” This sentiment underscores the Mifflin Street Block Party’s role as a rite of passage and a key part of the student experience at UW-Madison.
In closing, Captain Hanson appealed to students to be responsible and respectful amidst the revelry. He cautioned against “foolish activities, getting in fights, disturbances, property damage, [and] open containers,” advising attendees to avoid drawing negative attention in a large crowd with a substantial police presence. The Mifflin Street Block Party remains a significant annual event, embodying both the celebratory spirit of UW-Madison students and the ongoing efforts to ensure safety and responsible conduct within a large-scale street party setting.
