No DJ or light show for Church St Halloween party
TORONTO NEWS / Community association says money is too tight
Andrea Houston / Toronto / Tuesday, October 18, 2011
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After Pride Week, the second biggest homo holiday on Church St is Halloweek.

However, budget restrictions will mean a scaled-back festival this year, says David Wootton, manager of the Church and Wellesley Village Business Improvement Area (BIA). Both the DJ stage and the spooktacular light show have been cut.

“The people who come in costumes, they create the party,” Wootton says. “We hope the merchants on the street step in with some lighting and effects.”
Halloween on Church St in 2009.
(Xtra file photo)


A week of Halloween-themed events in the gaybourhood will culminate with an Oct 31 block party that annually draws thousands to the Village. The street will be closed from Alexander to Gloucester streets from 6:30pm until 2:30am, with Wellesley St remaining open to traffic.

Wootton says the board has a $25,000 budget set aside for Halloweek, so money is tight. In previous years the BIA received funding from Tourism Toronto, but it no longer receives this money. “That’s when we had more elaborate activities. One year there was a dog contest and a big stage show. With Tourism Toronto, you get the money for three years, then it’s up to you.”

Wootton could not provide further details about the BIA’s budget because board approval is needed to release it, he says.

Wootton hopes local businesses will pick up the slack on some extra costs. “I’ve been trying to reach out to companies like Nestle and Coca-Cola, but at this point we aren’t involved with any sort of sponsorship. In years to come we will continue to seek sponsorship because I think the event has a lot of potential.”

The BIA's annual general meeting, where the board's budget will be presented, takes place on Nov 7 at Fuzion Lounge from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. The agenda also includes discussion of the Maple Leaf Ryerson/Loblaws facility.

For more information, contact Wootton at 416-393-6363.
 
Halloweek highlights:

The week of spooky festivities kicks off Saturday, Oct 22 with the Queer Family Halloween Hullabaloo at the 519 Church St Community Centre. It takes place between 10:30am and 1:30pm and features crafts, music and games.

Devilicious runs from Oct 24 to 31 at several Village restaurants that have prepared Halloween-themed dinners and  three-course prix fixe meals. Other businesses will dress up storefronts and interiors with eye-catching spooky displays.

On Oct 26, Woody's will crown the Queen of Halloween at 10pm with Toronto’s top drag queens, hosted by Miss Conception. First prize is $1,000, with $500 for runners up. Entry information is available at Woody’s.

At Play on Church St, the most frightful drag queens perform each night, all week long.

On Oct 29 between 5pm and 9pm, the parking lot beside O'Grady's will feature a pumpkin-carving competition. All proceeds raised will go to the Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Association. Prizes are awarded and pumpkins will be auctioned off.

On Oct 30, Steamworks will host Twisted Halloween from 6pm to midnight, featuring demos from the men of Toronto Leather Pride.



Follow Xtra reporter Andrea Houston on Twitter @DreaHouston.




 


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Reader Comments


 
Lack of $
Tourism Toronto what a joke. We cut budgets while Mirvish Productions for years and years has got money from Tourism Toronto (like they need it) Before your readers go voting for them as 'Xtra's best of' shows and theatres just realize that they chuck your awards in a bottom filing cabinet (or in the trash) as they don't care and certainly don't want to display them. Next time you go there to do a story ask to see where they have them displayed!
Witchy Poo, Toronto ON
10/18/11 1:01 PM EST
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