MANHATTAN — For the first time in its 39-year history, the hugely popular Village Halloween Parade, scheduled to take over Sixth Avenue in Greenwich Village on Wednesday evening, has been canceled — a casualty of Hurricane Sandy.
The Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management and the NYPD nixed the parade this year, organizers announced on their website and Facebook page on Tuesday.
“We hope that everyone who would have come to the parade is safe and that those who can volunteer to help out at one of the Emergency Outreach Centers near you,” organizers wrote on the parade’s website. “We will surely miss all of you!”
This year, the parade had promised the spooky theme of "Tick! Tock!" which would explore the end of time in the final year of the Mayan calendar. And more than 2 million people were expected to swarm Sixth Avenue to take in the annual “Thriller” dance, hundreds of puppets and 53 bands.
The cancellation announcement met with mixed emotions Tuesday from those on social media who were planning to attend.
Some lamented the parade’s absence this year, but praised the decision in light of all the havoc Hurricane Sandy wreaked on New York City Monday.
“Its for the best. Next year will be even better,” Facebook user Elisa Adela Rumsey wrote. “As much as Halloween and this parade mean to us, so many more people need our attention and energy. Be safe everyone.”
Others clamored for the event to be rescheduled, or for a party to be held in lieu of the parade.
“Move it to fri or sat!" wrote Facebook user Javier Hernandez. “NY always rises after being hit with any catastrophe! The weather supposed to be better this weekend! Dont wait till next year!”