Denver’s Broadway Halloween Parade Faces $25K Funding Gap Amid Rising Costs
The Broadway Halloween Parade, one of Denver’s most beloved spooky season traditions, is once again fighting to stay alive. Since 2016, the parade has brought more than 70 floats, costumes, and candy to the streets of Broadway in the Baker neighborhood, drawing crowds of up to 30,000 people each October. But behind the festive spectacle lies a financial challenge that nearly canceled the event last year—and could threaten it again in 2025.
In 2024, organizers were forced to raise $26,000 in less than a week after the city required new pedestrian barricades for safety. Thanks to community support, they pulled it off and the parade went on. But this year, costs have only grown. Organizers now face an $85,000 total budget, with more barricades required south of Alameda Avenue and price hikes across the board. Even after savings and early fundraising, they still need $25,000 by Oct. 1 to keep the tradition alive.
There is some hope. The Campos Foundation recently stepped in with the largest donation in parade history and committed to an annual contribution for the next decade, providing a financial foundation the parade has never had before. Organizers are also hosting their first-ever Broadway Halloween Parade Bar Crawl on Oct. 10 and continuing to seek additional sponsors to help bridge the remaining funding gap.
If the money is raised, the parade will once again march down Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 25, bringing costumed floats, candy, and community spirit to the heart of Denver. It’s not the first time the parade has faced financial scares, but organizers remain determined: with community support, the Broadway Halloween Parade could continue to haunt and delight the city for years to come.
