Scary Economy Even Ruining Halloween Parade!

Seven major sponsors have dropped out of the always awesome West Village Halloween Parade, and the event's artistic director, Jeanne Fleming, says she's working with half the budget she had last year, leaving a $4,000 deficit. Organizers count on major sponsors to donate $25,000 each to the event, and the tanking economy could make next year a Hollow-een parade. Eh? Fleming tells Craine's, "The Halloween parade is a folk event. We can't just say we won't do it this year. It's what the people need right now." Registration for the parade is higher than ever, and thankfully the decline in funding won't affect this year's most hotly anticipated float: The Ferris Bueller parade reenactment. And here are some stellar photos from last year's parade.

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By John Del Signore in Arts & Entertainment on October 31, 2008 2:32 PM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

@ #7, That's not how she tells that story...

HUGO_MEGO

What Halloween parade? Ohhhh, you mean the fall gay parade.

HUGO_MEGO

Cult of Obama members will be out in force tonight spreading their hate, be careful.

EastRiver

It's what the people need right now.

What people? When I look around I don't see too much suffering - yet. If this is suffering I wonder how these people would have handled the actual Great Depression.

Rocknrope

I went to this parade one year, with my ex who dressed as a girl with a black eye who was pregnant. I didn't get her costume at all. I think she was just looking for even more attention than a costume would provide.

She was a wack.

ides_of_march

#5 "If you require corporate sponsorship it is not a folk event."

Exactly.

The parade's charm was its home-made costumes and informality when it first began.

dr zippy

"The Halloween parade is a folk event."

If you require corporate sponsorship it is not a folk event.

Editrixie

Stellar photos?

John Del Signore

All right, have it your way, pedant.

LinkMan

Registration for the parade is higher than ever, and thankfully the decline in funding won't effect this year's most hotly anticipated float

Yeah! I sure am thankful they won't be able to bring about that hotly anticipated float! Who wants hotly anticipated floats anyway?

Oh wait, you meant "affect" not "effect." Nevermind.

Love,

The Pedant