Scary cost forces cancellation of Halloween parade in Bloomfield

Bloomfield's annual Halloween Parade has been cancelled this year because it has become too costly, organizers announced.

The Bloomfield Citizens Council, which has sponsored the parade along Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh's Little Italy neighborhood for the past 49 years, said cancelling the parade was “a very difficult decision.”

The cancellation was posted on the Bloomfield Heritage & Preservation Society's website .

“Part of the decision was based upon the cost of the parade over the past several years,” council officials wrote. “With the increased size to 2,000 participants, the costs facing us this year were enormous.”

The parade regularly attracts more than 10,000 spectators, making it the largest night-time parade in the city, according to organizers.

Officials said they hope to bring back the parade in the future.

A petition drive to save the parade has been set up.

Tony LaRussa is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-772-6368 or tlarussa@tribweb.com or via Twitter @TonyLaRussaTrib.