WICKED WEEKEND

This year, it’s “Wicked Weekend” on Wilton Drive which is to be held from Friday, February 29 to Sunday, February 30. Also, unlike previous years, Wilton Drive will not be closed to automobile traffic. Events will be held along Wilton Drive in the parking lots and inside the various bars.

“We had planned to expand from last year,” said Tom Tabor of Wilton Manors Main Street, the organization which brought the businesses along The Drive together to plan a Halloween festival, “Until we found out how much everything costs.” Tabor said it would cost around $35,000 just to close the street.

Tabor also said that they considered having the bars located on Wilton Drive have street-side bars, something which is not normally permitted. But the City of Wilton Manors gave approval to this plan and the bars would split the costs of closing the street. But there was a lack of time and funds.

The businesses on The Drive did come up with a combined $15,000 to provide additional police and security service for the events. This also paid for additional public restrooms for the weekend, parking at Fort Lauderdale High School and a free shuttle service from the satellite parking lots to the festival. The city is providing traffic cones at the crosswalks and the large flashing message signs on both ends of the street and additional lighting. No money is being spent on street decorations unless the bars provide them individually.

Alibi, Bill’s and Boom will be having an outdoor entertainment stage to be located in the parking lot of the Shoppes of Wilton Manors. This will be at their expense. On the north end of Wilton Drive, Tabor said that the “Triangle” of New Moon, Matty’s and Rosie’s are working together but he didn’t know what their plans were.

Last year’s “Wicked Manors” was organized by Pride of Greater Fort Lauderdale but they lost $30,000 at this past June’s Stonewall Street Festival and Parade despite the high attendance. In April of this year, some of the board members of PGFL expressed that they didn’t want to organize “Wicked Manors” again and Wilton Manors Main Street offered to do it. Immediately after Stonewall, the PGFL board cancelled any plans for

the large street party which attracted up to 20,000 people last year.

“The difference is having the ability to charge for an event,” said Tabor referring to PrideFest organized by Pride South Florida, which annually charges a fee to attend. “There is no Santa Claus.” The question is: how do you charge for such an open event on Wilton Drive?

“Halloween is Halloween,” concluded Tabor, “and it’s going to be successful whether or not we close the street.”