The phrase "attempted to hold a" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an effort to organize or conduct an event, meeting, or similar activity.
Example: "The committee attempted to hold a meeting to discuss the upcoming project."
Alternatives: "sought to organize a" or "tried to arrange a".
Belgrade's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community last attempted to hold a pride parade in September 2009.
Liberal MP and same-sex marriage advocate Warren Entsch attempted to hold a middle course on Thursday.
Blanc's assistant then attempted to hold a seminar on a boat on Melbourne's Yarra river on Thursday night, which a handful of men paid to attend.
MOSCOW — Amid shouts from gangs of men and threats of beatings, police officers arrested more than a dozen gay rights activists, including a few foreigners, who attempted to hold a rally in Moscow on Saturday.
So far, no one has attempted to hold a Pride parade in an Arab country, though there have been parades in the Turkish city of Istanbul since 2003 (not without opposition).
Consider the Market Basket strikes earlier this summer: As workers spent weeks picketing the supermarket chain in support of the ousted CEO, the company attempted to hold a job fair to replace them.
On December 30th, the performance artist Tania Bruguera attempted to hold an open-mic event, for participants to speak about the changes they hope to see in Cuba, in Havana's Revolution Square.
On Monday, when Shouwang attempted to hold an outdoor service, 27 people were detained, including a woman in her 80s and a two-year-old child, according to a witness.
George Zimmerman attempted to hold an auction to sell the gun he used to kill Trayvon Martin.
Many of the most spectacular flops have been languages, like Ithkuil, that attempt to hold a perfect mirror up to reality.
While I generally attempt to hold a neutral position on the pieces I write, I feel obliged to declare an interest here, having canvassed for a yes vote in Ireland last week.
