Ralph Lee - Village Halloween Parade

Village Halloween Parade

Also in 1974, organized the first Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, which he directed through 1985. The parade began in the courtyard of the Westbeth Artists Community. During his tenure the parade grew from a small community event built around his masks and giant figures into one of New York City's major festivals, attracting over 250,000 people and media attention from around the world. For his work on the parade Mr. Lee received a 1975 Village Voice OBIE Award and 1985 Citation from the Municipal Arts Society, and in 1993 he was inducted into the CityLore People's Hall of Fame. Under his direction the Village Halloween Parade was funded by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (1974–1985), Con Edison (1980–1985), American Express (1983–1985), the Association for a Better New York (1985), the New York State Council on the Arts (1979–1984), the Public Theater (1983, 1984), the Kaplan Fund (1977, 1978 and 1983), and the National Endowment for the Arts (1977–1982).