The Village Halloween Parade NYC 2023 is a great New York City tradition. There are hundreds of Giant Puppets, more than fifty bands play 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.
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 shocked by the creativity of the costumes, and surprised by the good vibes all around 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.
Village Halloween Parade NYC 2023
The 50th Village Halloween Parade NYC 2023 marches up Sixth Avenue through the West Village/Greenwich Village, to Chelsea on Halloween Night, Tuesday, October 31, 2023 from 7:30-9pm. FREE with purchase options.
The 2023 Parade Theme is Upside/Down : Inside/Out! If you haven’t been feeling that way lately, you must be one of the walking dead.
The 50th Anniversary Grand Marshals are experimental violinist Laurie Anderson, and in memory Lou Reed. So go ahead take a walk on the wild side. “Do, do-do, do, do-do, do-do.”
March in the Parade
The lineup is on Sixth Avenue at Canal St. Enter from Tribeca (south), SoHo (east) or Canal St (west). 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.
Getting There
Don’t drive. Let me repeat. Don’t drive. The area is packed with people and traffic is a parking lot. One more time, together now. Don’t drive.
Take the bus or subway. Check halloween-nyc.com for station changes.
Webster Hell After Party
If you want to get up close and personal, the official after party is “Webster Hell” at Webster Hall. 9pm doors. There’s a $5,000 cash costume contest. It’s fun because its nearby and Webster Hall has many rooms, so can walk around the disco inferno all night. Get more information at halloween-nyc.com
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 somewhere.
Be a Halloween VIP
The Parade lineup line usually isn’t bad, but if you want to be a VIP and skip the line (from $100), silent disco dance through the parade ($125 includes the Webster Hell After-Party), lead the parade from the front ($500 includes the Webster Hell After-Party, and maybe your 15 minutes of fame on TV), or just support this iconic New York City event, you can do so at halloween-nyc.com
For general information, visit halloween-nyc.com