It’s that time of year again! The Annual Village Halloween Parade is back and better than ever this Halloween.
At 7 p.m. on Oct. 31, New Yorkers will line the streets of Manhattan for this annual Halloween spectacle, which is now on its 49th year. For the first time this year, the parade will be led by all women thanks to The Brass Queens, an 8-piece brass band from Brooklyn.
The parade, which has attracted millions of people around the world over the years, will feature hundreds of floats, puppets and costumes., including a float from this year’s Grand Marshalls, The Brooklyn United Marching Band. The theme of this year is “Freedom,” with the parade paying tribute to those who have fought for the rights we have now, such as the Raging Grannies, global peace, justice and social and economic equality by raising consciousness through song parodies and satire and will be bringing their energy to the streets of the parade.
“The Halloween Parade’s generous spirit has nurtured generations of people to feel inspired to reach into their imaginations and inhabit them with a sense of freedom and spontaneity; to play, thus renew their relationship to the environment. This is our parade, New York. Let’s dance together as one and keep this great tradition alive for years to come,” said Artistic and Producing Parade Director Jeanne Fleming. “This year’s theme, Freedom, was inspired not by the people of New York, but by their need to experience a place where fun is the main objective; to feel joy and the freedom of being who you are. Throughout history, when our country faced times of hardship, people flocked to the parade because extended the freedom to forget about whatever was going wrong and enjoy what was right in front of them, each other.”
This year’s parade will travel along 6th Avenue from Canal Street to 15th Street. The Village Halloween Parade sends its thanks to UBS financial advisor Jason Feldman and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
For those who wish to take part in the parade, lineup begins at 7 p.m. on Canal Street and 6th Avenue. Marchers must approach from the east or south of Sixth Avenue from Sullivan Street, East Street, Broome Street, and Canal Street. Marchers entering from the West side of Sixth Avenue can only enter via Canal Street.
The parade is free to attend, but there are VIP ticket packages available that can get you early entry access to the parade, the option to ride on a float and more. For more information, visit www.halloween-nyc.com.
