Friends in Defense of the Westheimer Street Festival

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    Montrose community, City of Houston
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To: Fans of the Westheimer Street Festival ON WESTHEIMER!!!

This is an official petition for those who feel that the Westheimer Street Festival not returning in 2005 is a sacrilege. During the October 2004 WestFest, the festival promoter has decided to discontinue the WestFest on Westheimer because of financial constraints.

Back in 2000, after three public hearings in response to closing Westheimer for the WestFest because of a revised street closure ordinance, the WestFest was forced to Allen Parkway for three years and eight months. The Allen Parkway move has resulted in a financial crisis where the final solution was to bring the festival back to Westheimer during Gay Pride Weekend in June 2003 - which was deemed a success.

Throughout 2004, one fear which was inevitable was the planned discontinuation of the WestFest on Westheimer - there were a few flyers posted on utility poles in the Montrose stating "No More WestFest". As of November 2, 2004, the WestFest headquarters @ 524 Westheimer has been abandoned and the phone # disconnected; it seems that the festival promoter has left for San Antonio.

As the president of the WestFest Purists Organization - I have defended the Westheimer Street Festival when it was held on Allen Parkway during the 'dark years' - I have defended the festival only once. After hearing of the rumored discontinuation since Spring 2004, another Houston-area tradition has fell victim to gentrification as if the Shamrock Hilton was erased from the Houston skyline.

Feel free to sign the petition if there should be a new Westheimer Street Festival on Westheimer; it's sad to see a festival which was named by the Houston Press as the Best Free Festival back in 1999.

Sincerely,

DON "The Emissary" SERIBUTRA
President, WestFest Purists Organization
Member, October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality - Houston Chapter

120 Signatures

  • H Rae Darnelle
    • Comments
    • The energy should remain on Westheimer. There is a powerful essence of oneness when united at the gatherings.
  • robert erik montoya
  • taylor chapman
  • Jenny Williams
  • Victoria Menchaca
    • Comments
    • please dont take it away i have only just come to know and love it plus i think if more advertising were done well in advance it would draw more crowds i did not know about the last one till the week of and also the fall is not a very good time of the year to have that sort of festival the summer or spring would be more apporpriate besides the one i went to during the summer was alot better than the one in october and it was still on westheimer
  • Misty Barnett
  • Tammera Halphen
  • Jane Bretz
  • Manolo Mata
    • Comments
    • No more let downs...
  • Shawna
  • Alyne Harding
    • Comments
    • What must we do to protect this tradition?!?
  • Alison Hill
    • Comments
    • This is a well-loved tradition for many people and families. People come from far and wide to participate in this unique event. We are an example of that; we come from about 70 miles away to attend. Please keep the WestFest and keep it on Westheimer!!
  • David Forbus
  • Regina Erickson
    • Comments
    • This one is a no-brainer. Put the street festival back on the street!!!
  • Rita Robles
    • Comments
    • Keep WestFest Alive!!
  • Sarah
  • J.W. Franklin
  • Gary Bohm
  • Gene Cannon
  • Norman Krueger
    • Comments
    • Bring back the Westheimer street festival
  • Stephanie Warrick
  • Tekora Alexander
    • Comments
    • lets keep a diversified houston tradition alive
  • Erin Cassity
  • Michael Ragan
  • Chris Kennedy
    • Comments
    • The street festival was an awesome opportunity to experience many different cultures and have a lot of fun. Please bring it back to Houston.
  • jennifer smith
  • Mike Kennedy
    • Comments
    • Please bring it back
  • Jennifer Bajorek
  • Andrea
  • Amanda Forrester
  • Silvia McClure
    • Comments
    • I grew up with the WSF, and look forward to seeing it in it's rightful place again!
  • Peg McCormick
  • Frosty Al-Oboudi
  • Michael Sluiter
  • Justine
    • Comments
    • Bring back the Westheimer fest!!
  • meg donaldson
  • Robert Garcia
  • Jen Prejean
    • Comments
    • Not only is the festival a great time but it generates business and income for the vendors.
  • Clark Williams
    • Comments
    • A Houston Tradition
  • Melissa
  • Jill Dean
  • Kim White
  • Julie Rivera
  • Ellen Greco
  • L A
  • Michelle Gould
    • Comments
    • Want it back to Westheimer / Montrose
  • Teresa Roberts
    • Comments
    • Let's keep this going as there aren't enough of these events for a city the size of Houston.
  • Joanna Johnson
  • Mark Neely
  • Jonathan Beitler