Popular UWS Halloween Festival Canceled Due To Coronavirus

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — In a bit of sad news for the entire Upper West Side community, the West 69th Street Block Association announced it is canceling its annual Halloween street festival due to coronavirus concerns.

The spooky event is one of the best known Halloween celebrations in the entire city.

The stretch of buildings on West 69th Street from Broadway to Central Park West break out some of the spookiest and grand decorations you can find.

"While it's with great disappointment that we canceled this year's festivities, it was out of an abundance of caution for the health and continued well-being of our loved ones and neighbors that we did it," said Eileen Vazquez, president of the West 69th Street Block Association, said in a message to the community. "The size of the event clearly violates the current law on event size. We love our neighbors and don't want to be a super spreader event."

The local Halloween tradition was founded in 1971 by Gwen Verdon, a Tony and Grammy-winning actress.

The community organization might be best known for its Halloween celebration, but the West 69th Street Block Association is also one of the oldest in New York City. You can learn more about it, and what part Verdon played in its beginning, in a short video.

The cancellation of the Halloween event was first reported on by ILovetheUpperWestSide.