Sixth Avenue is going to look very different on Halloween night. Giant puppets, bands, dancers, and thousands of costumed New Yorkers will make their way through Greenwich Village for the 53rd annual Village Halloween Parade.
The parade starts at 7 PM on Saturday, October 31, 2026, and is expected to run until around 11 PM. It’s free to watch from the sidelines. If you want to march, you’ll need to wear a costume. NYC Village Halloween Parade
What’s happening at the 2026 parade?
This year’s theme is “Body & Soul.” The opening performance, Firehorse!, features a puppet commissioned from master puppeteer Basil Twist and choreography by Julie Atlas Muz. Along the route, expect hundreds of giant puppets, more than 50 bands, and dancers of many styles. NYC Village Halloween Parade
Where is the parade route?
The march begins near Canal Street and Sixth Avenue and travels north on Sixth Avenue to 15th Street. Costumed marchers can join the lineup at Canal Street and Sixth Avenue between 6:30 and 9 PM. The organizer asks participants to follow its lineup approach directions rather than arriving from any side of the street. NYC Village Halloween Parade
Spectators can watch along either side of Sixth Avenue. The organizer notes that the stretch between Bleecker and 14th Street gets especially crowded, so choose your viewing spot with that in mind. Check the spectator guide before you head out. NYC Village Halloween Parade
Getting to the Village with GO Airlink
If Halloween is a group outing, GO Airlink’s charter service can help coordinate transportation for your party. Tell the charter team where your group is starting, how many people are traveling, and whether you need a ride after the parade or have other stops planned. Vehicle options include vans, Sprinters, minibuses, and motorcoaches. GO Airlink NYC
For a smaller party heading to the parade, dinner, or another Halloween event, private point-to-point car service gives you a reserved ride between your chosen locations. Flying in for the weekend? GO Airlink also offers airport transfers from JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark, with shared ride and private options available for airport travel. GO Airlink NYC
The parade takes over Sixth Avenue, so arrange a pickup and drop-off away from the route and allow time to walk to your viewing spot or the marcher entrance. Your exact vehicle meeting point will depend on access and street conditions that night. That advice is a planning inference from the published route, not a confirmed 2026 closure plan. NYC Village Halloween Parade
Quick answers
When is the 2026 Village Halloween Parade?
Saturday, October 31. It begins at 7 PM and is expected to end around 11 PM. NYC Village Halloween Parade
Is the parade free?
Yes. General viewing is free, and costumed participants can join the march for free. The organizer also offers optional paid access. NYC Village Halloween Parade
Do I need a costume to march?
Yes. The organizer allows only costumed marchers into the parade. Spectators do not need a costume. NYC Village Halloween Parade
Where do marchers line up?
At Canal Street and Sixth Avenue between 6:30 and 9 PM. Check the organizer’s entry directions before arriving. NYC Village Halloween Parade
Can GO Airlink take our group to the parade?
GO Airlink offers NYC group charters and private point-to-point transportation. Because the parade occupies Sixth Avenue, arrange your vehicle stop outside the parade route when booking. NYC Village Halloween Parade
Make a night of it. Book your NYC ride or ask about group transportation for your Halloween plans.