Police say Thanksgiving eve is one of the biggest party nights of the year, and federal highway officials say the number of people killed in drunk driving crashes over the Thanksgiving holiday is typically the highest of the year.

In Petaluma, many college students were home Wednesday night for the holiday and getting together for cocktails.

This so-called "Black Wednesday" tradition rivals New Year's Eve in Petaluma.

Police wanted to make sure people don't celebrate too much.

One group of college-age women are back home and catching up over a giant cocktail called a "Swamp Water".

"Just revisiting some friends from high school and kind of just back in home town and hanging out," said USF student Katherine Smith.

"The night before Thanksgiving the bars are just packed. I don't know why everyone wants to drink so much the night before you eat a bunch of turkey," said Nick Wells of Rocks Bar.

But sometimes the celebrations go too far, such as what happened two years ago.

"We had problems with bars over-serving, young people, fights, DUI's." recalled Lt. Dave Sears of the Petaluma Police Department.

Extra officers will be on the street and police met with bar owners last week to make sure things don't spin out of control.

Joe O'Donnell of McNears Bar said he expected there would be a line at some point Wednesday night.

"Once I get around 150, I'll close the doors up and start a line if need be and they'll kind of wait around the block there," said O'Donnell.

Extra taxis have been called in to help prevent DUI's.

"Usually I work the day shift," said taxi driver Scott Levy. "I'm running until 6 am."  Levy figured he'd have customers into the wee hours of the morning.