Irvington Halloween Street Fair canceled, but neighborhood won't neglect its big holiday

The Historic Irvington Halloween Street Fair is the latest high-profile Indianapolis event to be canceled because of concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Known as the centerpiece of Irvington's annual Halloween festival, the street fair attracts more than 50,000 attendees who show off costumes, listen to live music and check out what's available from food and drink vendors.

The date for this year's street fair coincided with the Halloween holiday, Oct. 31.

Despite losing the street fair, the neighborhood is keeping a week's worth of Halloween festival events on the calendar.

Highlights of the 74th annual event include:

• Masquerade Ball, Oct. 24 at The Lodge, 5515 E. Washington St.
• Art and Silent Auction, Oct. 26 at Our Lady of Lourdes Lyons Hall, 30 S. Downey Ave.
• Spooky Stories, Oct. 29, Irving Circle Park, 5703 University Ave.
• Pleasant Run Vampire Run, Oct. 31, beginning at Irvington United Methodist Church, 30 N. Audubon Road.
• Contests for costumes, posters, window painting, pumpkin carving and more.

"We're hoping with the cancellation of the street fair, which everybody identifies with the festival, maybe some of these smaller events will get a little more notoriety this year," Irvington Community Council member Carrie Yazell said.

Named after Washington Irving, author of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," Irvington picked up its spooky pedigree when it was founded in 1870.

The neighborhood hosted its first Halloween festival in 1927, and the event's modern version debuted in 1946.

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If health precautions make it impossible for the Masquerade Ball to be presented indoors in October, the fundraiser for neighborhood upkeep will be postponed to January, Yazell said.

The decision to cancel the street fair wasn't made solely because of health concerns, Yazell said. She cited the extensive contributions made each year by the neighborhood's residents and businesses.

According to a statement at the event's website, "We cannot ask for the time and financial support that it takes from our community in such an uncertain year."

Regarding the pandemic, Yazell said, "We want to make sure people are safe, and 60,000 people on Washington Street isn't the safest idea."

For more information about the festival, visit irvingtonhalloween.com.

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Contact IndyStar reporter David Lindquist at dave.lindquist@indystar.com or 317-444-6404. Follow him on Twitter: @317Lindquist.