ENGLEWOOD — The slumping economy is having an impact on annual events throughout metro Denver, including Englewood Days and Denver’s annual Parade of Lights.
Englewood Days, a popular city event that drew visitors and residents to downtown, was scheduled for Saturday but will not go on because of a lack of sponsorship and volunteers.
The day-long event, which costs between $18,000 and $20,000, was being moved this year to Englewood City Center from South Broadway. Downtown merchants on Broadway were not as active as in years past, according to officials. The event typically featured a car show, sidewalk sales, food and other events.
It’s not the only community event hurt by the times.
The venerable Christmas celebration Parade of Lights in downtown Denver is seeking donations because of rising costs, especially fuel prices. The cost of this year’s event is estimated at $400,000.
Susan Rogers Kark, vice president of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which puts on the Parade of Lights, said this is the first year the group will be soliciting donations from the general public for the free event.
People will be able to donate online, and the group also plans to hold a coloring contest for kids with an optional $5 per entry fee. It will also start selling related merchandise for the parade, now in its 34th year.
“There is a misperception that this is fully funded through the city,” Rogers Kark said. “We know the parade is something that is important to the community.”
Edgewater Days recently was canceled because of lack of funding and volunteers.
Edgewater Mayor Bonnie McNulty said the council had not budgeted the $20,000 event this year and it was too late to seek sponsorship.
She said events like these are especially critical during down economic times.
“It’s important to keep them alive because it connects people in the community,” she said. “It helps that whole process of making people feel a little better.”
McNulty said she hopes a revamped Edgewater Days will return next year.
In Englewood, the celebration dates back more than 80 years, said former organizer Doug Cohen, who was not involved with planning this year. It was stopped during World War II but was revived four years ago.
Back in the day, it was as much of a fall harvest festival as anything else, complete with baseball games and even horse races. While this year is history, officials hope to bring it back in 2009.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com
