NYC Village Halloween Parade 2026

The Village Halloween Parade is New York City’s annual Halloween procession down 6th Avenue through Greenwich Village, held every October 31 beginning at 7pm. Started in 1973 by mask maker and theatrical designer Ralph Lee as a small neighbourhood walk for friends and their children, it has grown into one of the largest participatory parades in the world, drawing around 60,000 costumed marchers and two million spectators.

What makes it different

Unlike most parades, the Village Halloween Parade is open to anyone in costume. There is no ticket, no registration required — you simply show up in costume at the 6th Avenue entrance near Spring Street before the 7pm start and join the march. The route runs north along 6th Avenue from Spring Street to 16th Street, passing through the heart of Greenwich Village. Spectators line the route on both sides; the best spots fill up by 6pm.

The parade is famous for its giant puppets — some up to 30 feet tall — operated by teams of volunteers and designed each year around a central theme. Live bands accompany sections of the march, and the whole event has a chaotic, genuinely New York energy that is hard to replicate.

Practical information

The parade is free to watch and free to join as a participant. Arrive early: the 6th Avenue sidewalks reach capacity quickly, particularly between Houston and 14th Street. If you plan to march, wear your costume from wherever you are staying — changing facilities are not provided.

Subway is the only sensible way to get there. The 1 train stops at Houston Street (one block from the start), and the A/C/E and B/D/F/M lines run to West 4th Street-Washington Square in the heart of the route. The area around the parade is extremely crowded and many streets are closed to vehicles.

October 31 in New York is also busy beyond the parade itself: bars throughout Greenwich Village and the East Village host Halloween parties, and the general atmosphere across the city on a clear October night is hard to beat. Read our guide to New York City for hotel recommendations across the boroughs.