New York’s most joyful night of the year is almost here. The 53rd Annual Village Halloween Parade returns on Saturday, October 31, 2026, stepping off at 7 p.m. and marching north up Sixth Avenue from Canal Street to 15th Street, rain or shine, in a river of costumes, music and giant puppets.
This year’s theme, Body & Soul, explores the connection between our physical selves and the spirit within, a fitting idea for a parade led each year by its famous dancing skeletons. Downtown performance artist Joey Arias serves as Grand Marshal, and the procession opens with a spectacular new creation: Firehorse!, a giant puppet performance by MacArthur Fellow and master puppeteer Basil Twist, choreographed by Julie Atlas Muz, with the luminous puppets of Processional Arts Workshop lighting the way.
More than 50 bands and dance groups join tens of thousands of costumed marchers, while crowds estimated in the millions line the avenue. Watching is completely free, and anyone in costume can march for free too: the lineup runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Sixth Avenue and Canal Street, with marchers entering from the east and south. Street clothes are not allowed in the line, and the parade keeps a zero-tolerance alcohol policy so the night stays family friendly.
Arrive early for a good spot along the barriers, pick a meeting point for your group, and let your imagination run wild. Spectrum News NY1 broadcasts the parade live from 8 p.m. for anyone watching from home. Happy Halloween, New York!
Photo: Steven Pisano / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
