Sixth Street Closed to Cars at 4 P.M. as APD Braces for Up to 100,000 Downtown on Halloween Night

Austin police expect between 80,000 and 100,000 people in the Sixth Street area over Halloween weekend, Downtown Area Commander Christopher Juusola said at the department's Thursday news conference — one of the biggest downtown crowds of the year, arriving on the same evening the Longhorns kick off at a sold-out stadium up the hill. APD is increasing its presence downtown and working the night alongside Austin-Travis County EMS and the Austin Fire Department.

The street plan starts early: East and West Sixth Street closed to vehicles at 4 p.m. Saturday, from Brazos Street to Red River Street, and police will tow vehicles left in prohibited areas after that time. The cross streets of Neches, Trinity and San Jacinto are closed between Fifth and Seventh streets, sealed with fencing and barriers, and Sabine Street closes at East Sixth — a layout Juusola said is designed to let emergency responders reach the crowds faster.

It is also a no-refusal weekend. Officers can expedite blood-draw warrants for suspected drunken drivers who refuse a breath test, and APD reminded the public that drinking alcohol on the street remains illegal in the entertainment districts. Cpl. Jose Mendez urged pedestrians not to cross between cars and to report anything suspicious to officers on the ground.

Anyone heading home by rideshare has to walk out of the pedestrian zone first — drivers cannot enter it to pick up. The north alley of Sixth Street, from San Jacinto to Red River, is closed to business access for the night; the south alley stays open.

And the night runs long by the clock. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, handing the crowds a second midnight. Juusola flagged the extra hour by name: "If you give them an extra hour to consume alcohol, it's going to cause more problems with intoxications."