By Emily Jaycox
For the Independent
The would-be fourth annual non-profit Halloween Howl has been cancelled due to lack of ticket sales.
The adult-only costume dance was to take place on Oct. 27 at the Stettler Agriplex, but as of Monday, Oct. 22, only 48 tickets were sold.
“Other years we’d have sold at least 100 by now,” said Roxanne Dickie.
The event was organized by Roxanne and Wayne Dickie of Dirt Road Music, as well as Aurora Berger and Brandi Page.
Proceeds of the dance go to the Stettler Food Bank each year.
With tickets sales down by at least half of what is usually sold by this time, the Dickies had to pull out before losing more from out-of-pocket expenses.
Cancelling now saves them the cost of entertainment, alcohol, and the cost of renting the venue, though she is still out a considerable amount of money from up-front costs that won’t be recouped, says Dickie.
The dance was popular in past years, selling between 300 and 400 tickets, says Dickie.
“It’s definitely dwindled down since the first year.”
There was to be live music with Garrett Gregory and Dirt Road Music, costume and door prizes, and the Chow Hound Food Truck onsite.
Those who pre-purchased tickets will be reimbursed, either at Well’s Furniture if purchased in person, or through Eventbrite.com via e-mail, for those who bought tickets online.
Advanced tickets were $20 each.
Organizers tripled their advertising this year, according to Dickie, and made appeals on the event’s Facebook page for people to buy tickets to avoid the event being cancelled.
Dickie says she isn’t sure why tickets didn’t sell this year, but that it may have to do with the economy, or with farmers getting to harvesting late because of early snowfall.
“It happens, what can you do?” said Dickie.
“Hopefully we’ll see everybody next year.”