New York City's iconic Village Halloween Parade is back for its 52nd year on Friday night. This year's event will be themed "It's a Potluck," reflecting the idea that despite our differences, we can come together through sharing and breaking bread.
The parade, which kicks off at 7 p.m., promises to be more lively than usual with many attendees still recovering from last week's workweek. However, police say they are prepared for the crowds and will have an increased presence throughout the city. Police Chief of Patrol Phillip Rivera noted that while people may be feeling a bit rowdier after no school or work on Monday, their safety is assured.
For those who prefer to avoid the crowds but still want to experience the spooky atmosphere, the parade will be broadcast live on NY1 at 8 p.m., offering a behind-the-scenes look at the parade route and some of its participants.
The event is free to attend from the sidelines or participate in the parade itself. However, attendees must be dressed in costume for the latter and can purchase tickets with special perks starting at $125.
The parade lineup begins on Sixth Avenue at 6:30 p.m., just south of Spring Street, where participants should enter the starting area from Canal Street and Sixth Avenue. Spectators are advised to arrive earlier due to anticipated large crowds.
Organizers have warned that traffic around downtown areas will be challenging due to street closures. The main affected streets include Sixth Avenue between Spring Street and 15th Street, as well as several side streets.
In a unique twist this year, the parade is themed around sharing food as a way to bring people together. City Harvest, the grand marshal of the event, aims to collect over 86 million pounds of food that would otherwise go to waste. This resonates particularly in light of federal food benefit programs like SNAP potentially expiring after Halloween due to the ongoing government shutdown.
For those who wish to celebrate beyond the parade itself, there is an official after-party called the "Vampire Ball" at House of Yes in Brooklyn's Industry City. Tickets are sold out but attendees with reservations can enjoy it from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. The event promises to be a true denizens-of-the-dark experience.
Lastly, this year's parade also includes a $5,000 costume prize for the best overall outfit.
The streets around downtown areas will indeed be congested on Friday evening due to closures that include Sixth Avenue between Spring Street and Canal Street as well as other nearby streets.
The parade, which kicks off at 7 p.m., promises to be more lively than usual with many attendees still recovering from last week's workweek. However, police say they are prepared for the crowds and will have an increased presence throughout the city. Police Chief of Patrol Phillip Rivera noted that while people may be feeling a bit rowdier after no school or work on Monday, their safety is assured.
For those who prefer to avoid the crowds but still want to experience the spooky atmosphere, the parade will be broadcast live on NY1 at 8 p.m., offering a behind-the-scenes look at the parade route and some of its participants.
The event is free to attend from the sidelines or participate in the parade itself. However, attendees must be dressed in costume for the latter and can purchase tickets with special perks starting at $125.
The parade lineup begins on Sixth Avenue at 6:30 p.m., just south of Spring Street, where participants should enter the starting area from Canal Street and Sixth Avenue. Spectators are advised to arrive earlier due to anticipated large crowds.
Organizers have warned that traffic around downtown areas will be challenging due to street closures. The main affected streets include Sixth Avenue between Spring Street and 15th Street, as well as several side streets.
In a unique twist this year, the parade is themed around sharing food as a way to bring people together. City Harvest, the grand marshal of the event, aims to collect over 86 million pounds of food that would otherwise go to waste. This resonates particularly in light of federal food benefit programs like SNAP potentially expiring after Halloween due to the ongoing government shutdown.
For those who wish to celebrate beyond the parade itself, there is an official after-party called the "Vampire Ball" at House of Yes in Brooklyn's Industry City. Tickets are sold out but attendees with reservations can enjoy it from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. The event promises to be a true denizens-of-the-dark experience.
Lastly, this year's parade also includes a $5,000 costume prize for the best overall outfit.
The streets around downtown areas will indeed be congested on Friday evening due to closures that include Sixth Avenue between Spring Street and Canal Street as well as other nearby streets.
! the whole potluck theme is genius - who doesn't love a good excuse to share food and drinks with friends? 
it's also super cool that city harvest is collecting all that food waste, especially since there are people struggling with hunger due to those fed gov programs expiring soon 
. but, like, traffic in downtown areas might be pretty cruddy, so plan ahead if you wanna catch the parade 
. and, omg, a $5k costume prize? that's like, totally worth dressing up for 
can't wait to see all the creative outfits and spooky vibes! 
. like with everything being so expensive and food banks struggling right now, it's like, yeah we can come together over a potluck but let's also talk about how we can make our lives more affordable and sustainable, you know? 
the fact that city harvest is collecting 86 million pounds of food is crazy tho! what if we could scale up that effort and make it a bigger thing for good? anywayz, i'm def gonna be checking out the parade live on NY1 or at least watching some vids online cuz traffic is gonna be a nightmare 
. has anyone else got any fave halloween traditions or costumes this year?! 
the village halloween parade is literally back after like 10 years 
i mean its a potluck so like who doesnt love food 
the $5k prize is tho 
cant wait to see all the costumes on friday night 
. And, omg, who doesn't love free events? Just remember to plan ahead, traffic might be a bit of a mess around downtown areas due to street closures 
i was walking through the Lower East Side yesterday and saw this one artist's work on a building that just blew my mind. it was all these colors and patterns and shapes, just so intricate and beautiful... anyway, back to the parade - yeah, a potluck theme is kinda cool, but have you ever noticed how weird it is when people dress up in costumes as their favorite foods? 
i mean, who doesn't love a good potluck themed halloween parade?! it's like, the ultimate way to show ppl we can all come together even if we're different, you know? 
and i love that city harvest is doing their thing to collect all that food, it's so cool! 
anyway, i hope everyone has a blast at the parade and party on friday night 
And hey, if you can't make it to the parade itself, there's still live coverage on NY1. You can get all the spooky action from the sidelines! 
i'm so hyped for this year's village halloween parade it's gonna be lit ! the whole potluck theme thing is genius, who doesn't love food and costumes, right? 
those street closures are gonna make for some crazy parking situations. And omg, have you seen the lineup this year? I need to check it out more! 
. And I love that City Harvest is using the event to collect food for those in need - it's such a great way to show people care 
I'm planning on watching from the sidelines and maybe even checking out that Vampire Ball party afterwards 
... who needs tickets, right? 
gotta plan my outfit now tho lol
. And who doesn't love a good excuse to dress up in crazy costumes? 
The $5k costume prize is on point too - can you even imagine? 
. It's awesome that City Harvest is using the parade to collect millions of pounds of food that would otherwise go to waste. On the flip side, I'm not sure how crowded it's gonna be this year... 86 million pounds of food might make for a pretty epic celebration! 
. but hey, safety first, right? 