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Let me tell you—here’s how to march in the Village Halloween Parade
Having participated last year, I learned a lot about how best to enjoy the experience.
The Village Halloween Parade—NYC’s creative and spooky procession—is one of the best Halloween events in Greenwich Village, and you won't want to miss it!
Each year, more than 50,000 zombies, ghouls, witches, monsters, robots, Jedis, giant puppets and more things that go bump in the night take to the streets for an evening of costumed revelry. Here's a peek behind the scenes with some of the parade's most amazing artists.
So get your costume ready, the Village is getting spooky! And if you need some last-minute NYC-themed costume inspo, we've got you covered.
RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Halloween in NYC
When is the Village Halloween Parade in NYC?
The Village Halloween Parade is on Halloween, Saturday, October 31, 2026.
What time is the Village Hallowen Parade?
The parade starts at 7pm and will wrap up around 11pm.
2026's route
This year's Halloween Parade starts at Canal Street and 6th Avenue and travels up the avenue to 15th Street. For more information, visit halloween-nyc.com.
This year's theme
This year's theme is "Body and Soul." As the event organizers say: "Dance your body and find your soul!" With the skeletons leading the way, they are revered as "the All-Souls of Hallow’s Eve."'
"We are all wandering souls," the event page reads. "And in order to truly embrace and live within our spirit, we must feel it in our bones, and so need an earthly body. But we live in an increasingly disembodied world."
The theme emphasizes our reliance on technology and devices, asking "where is the body in all this? And where does the spirit live?" It beggs participants to reconnect to their souls and "embrace what is most essential to us as humans," meaning the body, imagination and dance.
Who is the Grand Marshal for this year's Village Halloween Parade in NYC?
In keeping with the theme, this year's Grand Marshal is Joey Arias, a cabaret singer, jazz vocalist, songwriter, cult film star, theater artist, drag performer and fashion icon. Arias has been in many theatrical productions, including Cirque du Soleil’s "Zumanity."
How do I march in the Village Halloween Parade in NYC?
It's free to march in the parade, but costumes are mandatory. The procession lines up at 6th Avenue and Canal Street and rolls out from 6:30–9pm. North and west entrances to 6th Avenue will be blocked off by 6:30pm, folks can join the line from East Broome, Sullivan and Canal streets east of 6th Avenue. We recommend gathering your fellow creatures of the night a few blocks away rather than trying to find your group in the middle of the chaotic lineup.
If you want to skip the line, there are a variety of VIP ticket options.
Where can I watch the Village Halloween Parade in NYC?
Spectators can get to 6th Avenue early and grab a lookout spot before the parade starts at 7pm. The route becomes most congested with spectators between Bleecker and 14th streets, so we suggest setting up camp either between Spring and West Houston streets or more toward the end (14th St. to 15th St.).
There are also VIP options for watching the parade, which you can check out here.
If you can't make it in person (or just want to skip the crowds), watch the parade on NY1 from 8-9:30pm.
