San Francisco relocates Halloween party

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Officials in San Francisco say they are relocating the city's Halloween party this year in hopes of avoiding problems at the annual event.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's spokesman, Nathan Ballard, said the decision to move the party from the city's Castro district to a parking lot near AT&T Park was a precaution based on previous parties, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday.

Recent incarnations of the Halloween event have resulted in multiple acts of violence, including nine people being shot in 2006, but Ballard said officials want to build off the success of last year's event.

"We're optimistic this strategy will deliver a peaceful Halloween for the second straight year," he told the Chronicle.

The newspaper said the Oct. 31 event will offer free entertainment for children early in the evening before offering live music and other performers to adults for $31 a ticket.

Officials warn those attending will be subject to a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to fighting or drunken behavior.