The next NYC Halloween Parade is on Wednesday, October 31, 2018 from 7 – 10:30pm. Lineup is at 6:30pm.
The Parade marches up Sixth Avenue. It lines up at Spring St in SoHo, marches through Greenwich Village and ends on 16th Street in Chelsea, Manhattan. After the Parade, the party continues in Chelsea and Greenwich Village.
You can also watch the fun on NY1 from 8 – 9:30pm.
NYC Halloween Parade
The NYC Halloween Parade is a fun New York City tradition because anyone in costume can walk in the parade for free.
Fifty to sixty thousand people join hundreds of giant puppets, floats, and over 50 bands from around the world for the parade up Sixth Avenue.
Small children may be scared, but the crowd is really friendly. As people stream out of the parade, Greenwich Village turns into a giant party until the wee hours.
There is nothing directly Latin about the parade, but we do have strong puppetry traditions in Spain, Puerto Rico and other Latin countries. Catrina will certainly be there. Show your stuff! In a way, the NYC Halloween Parade is Carnival for New Yorkers.
2018 NYC Halloween Parade
This year’s theme is I AM a Robot!
The 2018 Grand Marshal is Machine Dazzle.
A special $25-30 advance ticket, and your Robot or Android costume gets you a secret entry without lines, a special DJ leading the group, and you’ll be on TV. Meet other Robots!
It’s $25 through October 22 and $30 after.
You can also just skip the line for $100.
MasCureAidsBall
The MasCureAidsBall benefits the Research Foundation to Cure AIDS (RFTCA) at 150 First Avenue at 7:30 pm.
The MasCureAidsBall includes dinner, an open bar, some thrilling performances and the AfterParty.
Feature performers are Joey Arias, Julie Atlas Muz (New York Times
New Yorker of the Year, 2017), “and Penny Arcade. The Broadway Inspirational Voices & NYC Gay Men’s Chorus, Ana Matronic (Scissor Sisters) also entertain.
Nightlife denizen Michael Musto hosts a $5,000 best costume prize.
Tickets from $250
All proceeds support the Research Foundation to Cure AIDS (RFTCA), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
The AfterParty
TIGGER! and DJ Pickles host the AfterParty starting at 10:30 pm
Tickets are $75. Presale only.
All proceeds support the Research Foundation to Cure AIDS (RFTCA), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Walking in the NYC Halloween Parade
All you need to join the parade is to be in costume, but you MUST be in costume. Enter the line up on Sixth Avenue between Canal and Spring Streets between 6:30 & 8:30 pm.
If you want to bring a motor vehicle into the parade, you have to contact the parade organizers first.
NYC Halloween Parade Route
Lineup
Sixth Avenue at Canal St
Start
Above Spring St in SoHo, Manhattan
Sixth Avenue
In SoHo, Greenwich Village and Chelsea, Manhattan
End
16th St in Chelsea, Manhattan
Getting to the NYC Halloween Parade
Whatever you do, don’t drive. Village streets will be full of people.
Remember, you can only enter the parade on Sixth Avenue at Canal St.
Subway
- (A) (C) (E) to West 4th St (closest station to the lineup)
- (B) (D) (F) (Q) to West 4th, 14th or 23rd St stations
- (1) (2) (3) (9) to Houston, Sheridan Square, 14th, 18th, or 23rd St stations
New Jersey Path
Take the 33rd Street Train to 9th, 14th, or 23rd St stations
By Bus
Sixth Avenue buses will not be running, so look for other options.
Watching the NYC Halloween Parade
You can watch the parade from the sidelines from 7 – 10:30 pm.
The parade will be broadcast live on NY1 from 8 – 9:30 pm.
Support the NYC Halloween Parade
The NYC Halloween Parade is a produced by a non-profit organization. You can contribute to the fun on their web site.
Be safe and sane. It’s more fun with friends.
2017 NYC Halloween Parade
This year’s theme is Cabinet of Curiosities: An Imaginary Menagerie. Think Freak Show or Frankenstein’s laboratory. You don’t have to follow the theme, but why not?
This year’s grand marshal is Angelica.
There is a costume contest. To enter it, all you need to do is join the parade.
Photographers can share your work on the parade web site.
There is an official after party at Slake NYC at 251 West 30th St between Seventh and Eighth Ave. Get tickets online because it sells out. They are giving a $2,500 prize for best costume around midnight.
Puppet Workshops
Another way to join the parade is to volunteer to animate a giant puppet. Every weekend in October there are puppet building workshops at the parade’s Puppetry Workshop upstate in the Hudson Valley near Rhinebeck, NY.
French-trained Master puppeteer Basil Twist designed and animates the giant spider going up and down the Jefferson Market Library clocktower while a giant squid waits in the tower for Halloween dinner.
Celebrity Walkers
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo walked in the Halloween Parade.
For more information, visit halloween-nyc.com
