Culture & Entertainment · Philippines Bureau
Baguio Halloween parade drops horror festival plans after religious opposition
Organizers of Baguio City's long-running Halloween parade have scrapped plans for a horror festival and convention, opting instead for a fantasy-themed celebration following objections from religious leaders including the local Catholic bishop.
LSN Philippines ·
BAGUIO CITY — Event organizers have abandoned their plans to stage a "horror festival and convention" as part of this year's October festivities, shifting instead to a family-friendly "fantasy parade" in response to sustained religious opposition.
The annual Halloween parade, a fixture in Baguio City since 2011, had been slated to expand into a larger horror-themed event. However, concerns raised by church officials, including Bishop Rafael Cruz of the Diocese of Baguio, prompted organizers to reconsider the direction of the celebration.
The decision marks a compromise between event planners and the religious community, allowing the established parade tradition to continue under a revised format that emphasizes fantasy elements rather than horror themes. The fantasy parade is expected to proceed as scheduled in October.
The shift reflects growing sensitivity among event organizers to community values and religious perspectives in the predominantly Catholic city, where such cultural celebrations often require alignment with local institutional concerns.