Irvington closes streets for 80th Halloween street fair

About 500 cyclists completed a four-mile route through the Irvington neighborhood on Friday night.

The ride served as the final warm-up before the 80th Historic Irvington Halloween Festival. Residents dressed in costumes and decorated their bicycles for the event. Nacho Beck, an Irvington resident, said the tradition brings the community together. "It’s wonderful, brings everybody together," Beck said. "Just get a bike and have some fun!" Ashley Beck noted that the gathering helps neighbors reconnect after years of closures. "I feel like, especially since stuff closed down years ago, it’s really good to see everybody close and enjoying the outside, making memories again," she said.

The festival has grown over eight decades. This year marks the first time Indianapolis has a designated outdoor refreshment area in the neighborhood. The new rule lets visitors carry alcoholic drinks from select restaurants and bars onto the street. Festival Director Carrie Yazell said the change supports local businesses. "It’s going to make things a little easier and bring more action to the businesses here in Irvington," Yazell said.

Saturday brings the main street fair. The event opens at 10 a.m. with more than 200 vendors, two live stages, two beer gardens, and costume contests. A parade featuring contest winners and floats is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.

Preparation work started early Saturday morning. About 200 volunteers gathered on Washington Street by 4 a.m. to set up barricades and signs. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers closed all streets to traffic to secure the area.

Yazell confirmed the team was ready for the crowd. "We will be up before the crack of dawn getting ready, barricades out," Yazell said. "We have IMPD partnering with us to close all the streets down. We’ve got people setting up signs and detour things. We’re ready."