Halloween; already?
I went to the gym early this morning and what did I spy? The Halloween store getting ready at its usual spot next to 24 Hour Fitness on Grand Avenue! Yup, it's only July 31, but they were filling up the store this morning. Three U-Haul's were unpacked to make way for the store which should open in a couple of months. Halloween is exactly three months from today.
It's nice to see them back, a constant that I like every year. I am hoping that our new Commissioner Ken Russell saves Halloween in Coconut Grove, as the previous administration has always tried to kill it. Excuses are there are too many people, too much violence, too much trash, etc. etc. Every city in the world has Halloween celebrations, It's part of American life, trying to kill it for no legitimate reason is less than smart, especially when a lot of people come to the Grove and spend money.
I get the excuses that people bring their own liquor, they leave bottles and glass on the sidewalks, they are rowdy and noisy. But you know what? Most places would kill for the crowds Coconut Grove gets for Halloween night. We need to keep this tradition. There may have been one violent act years ago and that one incident is used to kill a perfectly fun, legitimate event. The police take the blame, but it's the higher ups who want it gone. Halloween in Coconut Grove puts the Grove on the map, it brings in more people and more recognition than any other event all year, except for the Arts Festival. It's the number one event searched for on the Grapevine. That phrase "Halloween in Coconut Grove," will get thousands of searches. CocoWalk has their event and the bars and restaurants make lots of money. Who is against that? For those that don't like it, maybe they can just stay home that one night.
Long live Halloween in Coconut Grove. Ken, I hope you're reading this and you fight off the negative people who for whatever reason, want to kill one of the last vestiges of the old Grove that we have, and also, one of the last remaining events that we do have.
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4 Comments:
AMEN
I guess its a good thing that there are so many empty stores in the Grove (with its high turnover), that a Halloween Pop-Up has an opportunity to open up for a very short term lease.
Well said.
It would be nice if they officially named October 31st in Coconut Grove "Greg Gillingham's Day". He was the King of Halloween in the Grove in the 70's and 80's.
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