The Halloween Parade, which was scrubbed by Hurricane Sandy last year, is in jeopardy this year thanks to loses from the storm plus new demands for expensive insurance to protect sponsors in the event of new problems.
Organizers of the 40th anniversary Greenwich Village event are so desperate that they’ll launch an online fundraising campaign on Monday to raise at least $50,000.
"People of the internet, New York City's Greenwich Village Halloween Parade is too important!” the parade’s Kickstarter video proclaims.
A similar Kickstarter campaign by Coney Island's Mermaid Parade in the spring raised $117,000 — and Jeanne Fleming, who has run the ghost, goblin and ghoul march for 33 years, hopes for the same kind of magic.
"It's not just that we lost money last year but we have to spend more money this year," said Fleming, citing demands for “cancelation insurance” to ward off losses if the parade is scrubbed again.
The parade was supposed to take place two days after Sandy devastated the region last October but was cancelled along with the New York City Marathon.
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Still, said Fleming, "Everybody made us pay for everything,” including rented walkie talkies and portable toilets, construction of giant puppets and floats and staff salaries.
Worse, organizers could not collect donations during the parade, a major source of income.
That’s where the Kickstarter video comes in. The goal of the video is to remind viewers of the importance of the parade, which not only entertains millions, but fills bars and restaurants on one of the biggest nights of the year.
"New Orleans has Mardi Gras,” musical coordinator Matthew Fass says on the video. “We have Halloween."
To induce contributions, organizers are offering a wedding performance by a Lady Gaga impersonator and the honor of marching at the head of the parade with Fleming.
For info, visit www.halloween-nyc.com.
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