LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — The Thriller and Halloween Parade and the Halloween Festival and Variety Show have been moved to next weekend due to inclement weather.
The event will now take place on Sunday, Nov. 5, due to challenges with setup and potential safety concerns, according to the City of Lexington Parks and Recreation.
The annual Thriller Parade and Halloween Variety Show will now occur at Masterson Station Park, instead of along Main Street in downtown Lexington.
Downtown, people working at bars and restaurants noted the quiet streets on a typically busy end to Halloween weekend.
"We're closing down. We're like, 'Well, since [the parade's] not going to be here and the weather's like this, we just don't see anybody coming down here tonight,'" said Shannai Brooks-Jackson, a bartender at Sidebar.
The announcement came after an already slow morning. Brooks-Jackson noted other businesses in the area also decided to shut their doors early.
She expressed concern over the change of location for the postponed celebration.
"When I saw that it's going to be in Masterson Station next, I was like...well what about downtown?" Brooks-Jackson said. "Stop taking business away from downtown. You took Pride, now you're taking Halloween. We're here. Don't forget us."
The city announced the change of date and location early Sunday afternoon.
“While it’s unfortunate that the weather requires us to move dates and change locations for this year’s Thriller parade and Halloween festivities, this will be a unique opportunity for people to view the event at a new location – in Masterson Station Park,” Monica Conrad, Director of Lexington Parks & Recreation, said in the announcement.
The parade and show will kick off next Sunday with food and drink vendors opening at 2:30 p.m. Performances will begin at 4 p.m. and the parade will start at 5 p.m.
