The opening banner of last year's Arturo Sanchez Sr. annual Halloween Parade in Norwalk. The parade, which was started in the early 1960s by a local resident, has been held every year since, but the tradition could end this year as the city has canceled the event due to budget constraints. (Photo by Gary McCarthy)
Story Created:
Oct 8, 2009 at 10:41 AM PST
Story Updated:
Oct 8, 2009 at 10:41 AM PST
NORWALK — Family members Tuesday night accepted the fact that this year’s Arturo Sanchez Halloween Parade has been canceled, but called on the City Council to restore the nearly 50-year-old event next year.
They spoke during the public comment part of the City Council agenda.
“The parade has become a cultural icon,” said Art Sanchez Jr., the son of Arturo Sanchez, who started the parade in his neighborhood in the early 1960s. “It has been a positive influence in the city.”
“Please continue the event in some way in the future, perhaps on a lesser scale,” said Rick Sanchez, who was Arturo’s brother and a former member of the Cerritos College Board of Trustees.
He said events such as the recent El Grito celebration in honor of Mexican Independence Day are successful in bringing the heavily Hispanic community together and said the Sanchez parade, started by his brother with help from the late state Sen. Cecil Green, D-Norwalk, served the same purpose, promoting unity.
The city has not made a formal announcement about canceling the parade because of budget constraints and the economy. Last year it allocated $25,000 to the parade but then came up with $70,000 to finance the parade as usual.
Proposals last year to reduce the parade included a shorter marching distance and no band judging.
But the $70,000 allowed the regular parade, with some 80 units including 14 bands, area dignitaries, equestrian units and members of the Sanchez family along with children in costume, to go on.
“I was saddened to receive a letter from the city several days ago saying the
parade would be canceled,” Art Sanchez said.
He recalled that his father, a musician and civic leader in the heavily Latino south part of the city, conceived of the Halloween parade to give neighborhood children something constructive to do on Halloween.
The original parade was from the former Nottingham Elementary School (since renamed Sanchez Elementary for the parade founder) to Hermosillo Park across from the school on East 162nd Street.
It was led by the band from Excelsior High School, which has since closed.
Now the parade attracts bands from throughout the area.
He thanked the city for making the event a community-wide celebration in 1981 following the death of his father.
Noting that he and other family members, including his mother, Dora, have participated in the parade each year, Sanchez said “the parade has given both young and old in the community the chance to forget their troubles and have fun, as my father intended.”
“Don’t let the parade be canceled again next year. We will work to keep the parade alive, not only in memory of my father, but for the good of the city,” he added.
Parks and Recreation Director Dave Verhaaf said Tuesday the city still plans to conduct its annual Halloween festival Oct. 31 at City Hall.
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