The Village Halloween Parade might be New York City’s biggest party. Traditionally, some 50,000 to 60,000 march in the spooky jamboree, while hundreds of thousands more watch from the sidelines. Ralph Lee started the event in 1974 as a puppet parade for his kids and their friends in the far West Village. The route has changed a number of times as the parade has grown from a community event into an institution; in 1982, artist Jeanne Fleming took the reins—officially becoming the organizer in 1986, after Lee departed—and still runs it today.
Photo: Paola Chapdelaine
Each year large puppets, costumed folks, musicians and dancers proceed up Sixth Avenue, all loosely organized around a theme; for 2026, that theme will be “Body and Soul,” highlighting the coming together—and expression of, particularly in terms of dance—the physical and the spiritual. The grand marshal this year will be longtime downtown fixture Joey Arias; the cabaret singer and performance artist is starring at the moment in Arias with a Twist, at Soho’s Here Arts Center.
The parade is a chance to see all kinds of New Yorkers and visitors express their creativity, which is why it’s gained a reputation as an event you have to experience to believe. For a glimpse of that creative spirit, take a look at our photographs of the costumed people on the subway in the lead-up to last year's parade.
Photo: Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet
Interested? We are confident you are. Keep reading to learn how to make the most of your time there.
When: Halloween night (October 31), from 7pm to 11pm.
Where: Starts on Sixth Avenue and Canal Street and marches up the avenue to 15th Street.
How to get there: If you’re just planning to watch somewhere along the route, take the C or E to Spring St.; A, B, C, D, E, F or M to West 4th St.; 1 to Houston St. or Christopher St.; or 1, 2, 3, A, C, E, F or M to 14th St.
Photo: Paola Chapdelaine
Who participates? Anyone in costume can take part. There is no registration (unless you are part of a band and want your group to perform), so just show up. Marchers dress to impress, so don’t slap on cat ears and call it a night. One of the big highlights is the Thriller Dance, performed by a dedicated group who duplicate all the moves from the Michael Jackson "Thriller" video.
How? Arrive at Canal Street and Sixth Avenue between 6:30 and 9pm. Participants can only enter from the east and south sides. Visit the parade website for a diagram and more specific instructions.
Who watches? Anyone willing to brave the crowds and celebrate Halloween with that NYC spirit.
How? Line up on either side of Sixth Avenue (between Spring and 16th Streets) from 7pm to 10:30pm to view the spectacle.
Photo: Paola Chapdelaine
Anything else I should know? Don’t plan on crossing Sixth Avenue anywhere along the route during the parade, as authorities barricade the thoroughfare. The parade is intended to be kid-friendly, but some costumes may be NSFW or scary for children. Finally, if you can’t make the parade, watch it on local channel NY1 from 8 to 9:30pm.
What else can I do that is Halloween related? There is an official parade afterparty, the Vampire Ball, organized by Brooklyn's House of Yes at Industry City, in Sunset Park (House of Yes also hosts House of Hallucinations at its Bushwick venue). The Bowery Boys do a four-night cabaret-style run of NYC ghost stories at Joe's Pub (Oct 28–31). A Halloween Haunted Hop, featuring cult-music favorite Swamp Dogg, noted local DJ Jonathan Toubin and many others, takes place October 30 at Knockdown Center out in Maspeth, Queens.