At the Village Halloween Parade, you can watch the costumes go by or put on your own and become part of the parade!
What to expect
On Halloween evening, giant puppets, bands, dancers, and thousands of costumed participants make their way through the streets. Some costumes are spooky, others funny or so elaborate that you’ll want a second look.
Watch for the Thriller dancers, too: the group has been performing the choreography to Michael Jackson’s song in the parade since 2004.
And you don’t have to stay on the sidewalk. Anyone in costume can join the general parade for free. The participant entrance is at Sixth Avenue and Canal Street, south of the viewing area. Meet your friends away from the route first and head to the lineup together.
The parade has a different theme each year. For 2026, it’s Body & Soul, with a new Firehorse puppet performance opening the procession.
Parade Route
The parade heads north along Sixth Avenue. For watching, the official viewing stretch runs from King Street to West 15th Street, with spectators on both sides of the avenue.
Good to know
- Watching from the public sidewalks is free. Paid VIP standing or seated viewing and skip-the-line options are optional extras.
- Arrive early for a spot with a clear view. The stretch between Bleecker Street and 14th Street gets particularly crowded. I would get there at 5PM.
- The parade takes place rain or shine. Dress for an evening outside.
- With young children, consider the late hour, dense crowds, and potentially scary costumes.
- The thriller performance marches with the parade. You can see the group along the entire route. It is not necessary to claim a special location!
- Anyone in costume can join the general parade for free. Dancing with Thriller NYC requires a separately confirmed registration; you cannot join the dance group spontaneously.
- Thriller NYC has limited places. The organizers registration opens on October 1 at noon New York time, with places selling out quickly ($50). New dancers must attend both rehearsals. Check the current requirements before registering.
- Alcohol is strictly forbidden at this event.
