Organizers of Milwaukee Holiday Parade retiring after 90 years, says 2017 parade was their last

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The organizers of Milwaukee's long-running holiday parade, said last year's event was the last one. 

The family who has put on the parade for more than 90 years announced Wednesday morning that they are going to retire. 

"My family and I felt that we can no longer maintain the parade that it's legacy deserves. There we have carefully and prayerfully decided to retire from putting on the parade and last year's parade was our last," said Suzanne DeGrace Spaeth. 

The family says they took over for their father who started the tradition after his death. They say it has been a struggle carrying on full time jobs and raising their families while putting on the popular parade. The family says they have also seen a decrease in financial support over the last few years. 

The organizers say it costs $150,000 to put on the parade and hope that someone else will be able to take it over.