Money trumped tradition this year, and the annual Carlotta Street block party will be held the Friday before Halloween — Oct. 29.
Because the party has traditionally been held the Saturday before Halloween, two separate Facebook groups planned parties, one for Oct. 29 and one for Saturday, Oct. 30. Both Facebook groups are now advocating the Friday party.
The Facebook group for Friday’s party has more than 740 members, and the group originally created for Saturday’s party has more than 1,680 members.
The Baton Rouge Police Department would have allowed a permit either night, but hiring enough officers to cover the Saturday party would have cost about $13,000, according to North Gate Merchants Association President Jared Loftus.
BRPD and advocates of both parties met Monday to discuss the issue.
“It comes down to Friday is much easier for it to work,” Loftus said. “Because everyone has to work on Friday, we have many more officers to choose from.”
While the party has almost always been on the Saturday before Halloween for the past 35 years, Loftus said the tradition may change because football games have conflicted with the Saturday party plans several times.
Jay Price, a spokesman for the original Saturday event and Carlotta Street area resident, said BRPD was helpful in every way.
Price said he was originally under the impression BRPD wouldn’t be willing to help.
“It is significantly easier for the chief of police to organize and mobilize a group of officers to help out,” Price said. “It still kind of sucks, but we’re going to make deals where we can. The last thing we want is to not have a party.”
Price said having the party Friday also allows the party to host more bands than would have performed on Saturday, and North Gate Merchants Association has a stage available for bands to perform Friday.
Price said there will still be a few hundred people who will show up Saturday regardless because they are used to the Saturday tradition.
Using various media, the Facebook group and word of mouth, Price said he hopes to notify as many people as possible in the next two weeks.
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Contact Catherine Threlkeld at [email protected]