New Yorkers turn out in terrifying numbers for 52nd Annual Village Halloween Parade
The annual New York City Village Halloween Parade returned another year Friday, with an exciting theme and a terrifying number of participants.
New Yorkers broke out their tastiest costumes to fit with this year's theme – potluck, to celebrate this year's grand marshal, City Harvest, which was honored for feeding hungry New Yorkers.
"It's all about abundance. There's enough for everyone so a feast for us all," said a parade-goer dressed as John Lennon.
The parade was packed with plenty to see, including the return of the giant puppets, along with music from around the world, art and dancing.
Those marching in this year's low temperatures, bracing the wind, consider it a creative outlet.
"It's all about, like, imagination and connection, and when you put that together in the middle of New York with the way New Yorkers are, you just get magic," art teacher James Haggerty said.
Map shows the NYC Halloween Parade route
The parade began at Canal Street and Sixth Avenue and continued in a straight line, ending at Sixth Avenue and 15th Street.
Spectators could watch the parade along both sides of the street from King Street to 15th Street. VIP tickets were available for purchase, granting spectators special standing and seating areas to watch the parade.
What time was the NYC Halloween parade?
The parade began at 7 p.m. on Halloween night and ended around 11 p.m.
The public was welcome to join the parade in costume for free, if they lined up on the corner of Canal and 6th Avenue between 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
A ticketed after-party was held after the parade. The theme for the after-party was "The Vampire Ball," and it was thrown by House of Yes at Industry City in Brooklyn.
Village Halloween parade street closures
Parade organizers asked that people not drive to the event due to street closures and the large crowds expected.
Here is a list of street closures beginning on Friday.
Formation:
- 6th Avenue between Spring Street and Canal Street
- Dominick Street between Varick Street and 6th Avenue
- Sullivan Street between Broome Street and Spring Street
- Broome Street between Sullivan Street and Varick Street
- Spring Street between Sullivan Street and Varick Street
Route:
- 6th Avenue between Spring Street and 15th Street
Dispersal:
- 16th Street between 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue
- 17th Street between 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue
- 18th Street between 5th Avenue and 7t Avenue
- 5th Avenue between 14th Street and 19th Street
- 7th Avenue between 14th Street and 19th Street
Miscellaneous:
- 10th Street between 6th Avenue and Greenwich Avenue
- Van Dam Street between Varick Street and 5th Avenue
For more information about other street closures in New York this week, click here. The New York City Department of Transportation also has a list of other Halloween events, such as Trick-or-Treats, on its website.
How to get to NYC's Halloween parade
The organizers of the parade recommended that all spectators and participants take the train or bus to get to the event.
The L train ran on a normal schedule during the event, but there were some changes to other lines and stations.
- Trains heading southbound will bypass Spring Street C/E between 5 to 10 p.m.
- The northbound side of Spring Street C/E will be exit only
- Southbound A trains run lock from 59 Street to Canal Street after 10 p.m.
- Northbound A trains will operate via the Rutgers Tube after midnight
- Southbound F trains will operate via the Cranberry Tube after midnight
- 14 Street and 6 Avenue L/F/M station: The 16th Street side will be exit only.
- West 4th Street A/B/C/D/E/F/M station: Some entrances will become exit-only and entrance-only depending on crowd size and timing.
Buses along 6th Avenue were rerouted starting after 6 p.m. until the parade ended.
History of the Village Halloween parade
The NYC Village Halloween parade began in 1973 when a puppeteer, Ralph Lee, took his family and friends on a walk in the neighborhood. The parade grew larger the following year after a theater became involved. But in its third year, the parade became a non-profit organization and produced the entire spectacle itself.
Fifty-two years later, the parade now attracts around 2 million spectators and around 80,000 participants, according to the website. Past governors and mayors have also attended the parade.