The Village Halloween Parade NYC 2024 is a great New York City tradition. There are hundreds of Giant Puppets, more than fifty bands playing all kinds of music, floats, all kinds of dancers, and thousands of your fellow New Yorkers (needs no explanation). Anyone can march, as long as you are in costume. Just enter the lineup. The creativity of New York is over-the-top. It’s also safe and sane (or maybe safe and insane).
51st Village Halloween Parade 2024
The 51st Village Halloween Parade 2024 celebrates the theme “MEOW,” in a parade up Sixth Avenue, from Canal St to 16th St, through Hudson Square/SoHo, West Village/Greenwich Village, to Chelsea on Halloween Night, Thursday, October 31, 2024 from 7-9pm. FREE with purchase options. 🎃
The Parade calls on cat ladies to unite! There is even a special section in the Parade for Orange Cat Ladies. This is obviously a reference to the tired old man’s attack dog who hates “childless cat ladies” and their friends. We love cats. “Meow!”
The 2024 Grand Marshal is André De Shields, the Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award-winning American actor. andreshields.com
After Party
The Official NYC Halloween Parade AfterParty is Webster Hell, at Webster Hall in Manhattan’s East Village. There is the traditional Virgin Sacrifice (fake blood) and a $5,000 cash costume contest. That must be good. It’s on Halloween night, Thursday, October 31, 2024. 9pm doors. From $38. websterhall.com
It’s fun because Webster Hall is nearby and has many rooms, so can walk around the disco inferno all night. Every restaurant, bar, and night club in New York City is having Halloween parties, so if you can’t get into Webster Hell, you can find your own version of hell in the city.
Village Halloween Parade
Lineup
The lineup is on Sixth Avenue at Canal St. Enter from Sullivan, East Broome, or Canal Streets. It’s best to come from the east or the south. Lineup starts at 6:30pm and ends at 9pm. You must be in costume to march.
Watch the Parade
The Parade marches up Sixth Avenue from Canal St up to 15th St. Parade viewing starts at King St (just below Houston St). You can watch from either side of Sixth Avenue. We recommend the east side because it’s easier to filter back into The City, unless you prefer the West Village.
It’s also broadcast live on NY1 cable at 8pm.
Halloweeny VIPs
The Parade lineup usually isn’t bad, but if you wannabe a VIP and skip the line ($100), want to watch near the reviewing area ($250), or just support this iconic New York City event, visit halloween-nyc.com
Getting There
Don’t drive. Repeat. Don’t drive. The area is packed with people and traffic turns The City into a parking lot. One more time, together now. Don’t drive.
Take the bus or subway. Check halloween-nyc.com for station changes.
A Scary Story
On my first year in New York City, I was afraid to go out on Halloween because I thought the New Yorkers would eat us up. The second year, my wife had a connection at the Jefferson Library on the parade route, so we went. We were amazed by the creativity of the costumes, and enjoyed the really good vibes that lasted through the night.
After the parade, marchers and viewers filter out into Chelsea and Greenwich Village until the wee hours. You come across stranger things like intersections where a dozen costumed Spidermen are having a mock battle. Sometimes you just can’t believe your eyes, but its really fun. So go girl. Go boy. Go whatever. You’ll be glad you did.
Information
Facebook @nychalloween
Instagram @nychalloween