By RUSS BENGTSON
Big Shout Magazine | Halloween Loop Extra, October 1994

And last year, the loop became loops. With that came two bus routes, two stamps, two separate admission charges. West End and Downtown were separated. The lion lay down with the lamb, looked over, shrugged his shoulders and had an early lunch. There was confusion. And the gods looked down upon it, and they were not pleased.

So this year the leaders spoke, and yea, behold, there will be one loop with 23 stops. One route. One cover charge of $5. West End and Downtown, together. The gods are happy.

So is Kevin Friel, the proprietor of O’Friel’s Irish Pub and one of the organizers of the 1994 Halloween Loop. “The idea has always been to expand and encompass the whole city,” Friel says. “Instead of two competing loops, it makes a lot more sense to have one loop.”

There will be a lot of veteran establishments — The Barn Door, Bernie’s Tavern, Bottlecaps, The Bull’s Eye Saloon, Cavanaugh’s, Comegy’s, C.J. Bart’s, Feasel’s Cafe, Gallucio’s Cafe, the downtown Holiday Inn, Jasper’s Next Door, Kid Shelleens, Kelly’s Logan House, Knucklehead Saloon, O’Friel’s Irish Pub, Renaissance Dance Club, Scratch Magoo’s, The Cantina, and the Varsity Grill are all repeat participants — while Porky’s, The Big Kahuna, The Clubhouse, and the Emergency Room are all first-time loopers.

Roughly half of the establishments will have live entertainment, ranging from the Cajun-zydeco sounds of Planet Folle (Cavanaugh’s) to the blues band the Bug Hunters (Feasel’s) to the alternative rock of Ham and Knobs (The Barn Door). Most of the others will feature DJs or jukebox music. One small fee of $5 gets you on the buses and in all of the establishments.

There will be 10 buses this year. Seven will travel the prescribed route, while three will be “express” buses taking revelers directly downtown from west end spots like the Logan House or out-of-the-way locations like the Kahuna.

You can also expect a visit from the “Great Pumpkin.” If Linus is in the area, even he’ll be able to see him — the Brandywine Building will have designated lights turned on to make a 10-story pumpkin glare down on the city. “It’ll be visible from Route 95 and all over the city,” Friel says.

Ten-story pumpkin aside, the Halloween Loop is the lone survivor of the monthly loops that used to run through Wilmington on the last Friday of every month between 1979 to 1982.

Once down to around 10 establishments, now with 23 stops, the loop has grown to monstrous proportions. but the idea of splitting it created a true two-headed monster.

“Last year there were a lot of problems,” Friel says. “You went from place to place and had to deal with two stamps and two routes. This way makes it a lot easier and much better.”

And, this way loopers get to hit every establishment without the inconvenience of two cover charges or having to figure out which bus to get on.

With various drink specials and entertainment all over the city, it would be very easy to stop at one place and stay there. But that’s what the other 364 nights are for.