After weeks of seeing smashed pumpkins on stoops, displayed in mind control labs, and turned into fantastical displays, perhaps you're finally ready to join the thousands who head to the big Village Halloween Parade on Thursday. Here's what you need to know about where the parade is and whether you'll be able to cross 6th Avenue (there are seven pedestrian crossings... but good luck!).
The parade begins at 7 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m., going up 6th Avenue from Spring Street to 18th Street. At 6 p.m., 6th Avenue will close to vehicular traffic, while side streets in SoHo will closing as early as 10 a.m. because that's where the revelers will be forming. Here are the details from the police:
VILLAGE HALLOWEEN PARADE
Manhattan: 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
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 18th Street
Dispersal:
- 16th Street between 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue
- 17th Street between 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue
- 18th Street between 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue
Pedestrian Crossings (7)
- 6th Avenue and Prince/Charlton Street
- 6th Avenue and West 4th Street (Eastbound only)
- 6th Avenue and Washington Place (Westbound only)
- 6th Avenue and West 11th Street
- 6th Avenue and West 13th Street
- 6th Avenue and West 14th Street
- 6th Avenue and West 15th Street
Miscellaneous:
- 10th Street between 6th Avenue and Greenwich Avenue
- Van Dam Street between Varick Street and 6th Avenue
The huge crowd at the Village Halloween parade in 2019
Also, C/E Spring Street subway access will be affected. After 5 p.m., the downtown side will only have entries at Spring Street and exits at Vandam, while the uptown side will be exit only. Then, after 6 p.m., pedestrians will be directed to the Canal Street station.
For L train riders, here's a treat: The MTA is keeping the L to a "normal" schedule for Halloween night. The L Train weekly newsletter adds, "Remember that L trains during overnight hours (1 to 5 a.m.) run every 20 minutes, so that still stands, work or no work."
An MTA spokesperson added, "Buses that intersect with the route will have reroutes and delays due to street closures and detours, with real-time status on mta.info." Check out the full Halloween plan at new.mta.info/halloweenparade2019
People dressed as characters from the Nightmare Before Christmas during the 2018 Village Halloween parade.
You can join in the Village Halloween Parade for free, if you wear a costume (more details here), but you can also buy tickets—which helps support the non-profit organization that runs the parade—and march in special groups.
During a press conference, NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill said that he looked forward to "another great Halloween parade in the Village tomorrow, in spite of the rain," but also paid tribute to the eight people killed during the 2017 Halloween attack on the West Side Highway. The NYPD does not believe there are any specific terrorism threats to the parade, but will have blocker vehicles (sand trucks) along the parade route, as well as K9 teams. Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence & Counterterrorism John Miller said officers are on "high alert" and will bring their "A-game" to make sure people can celebrate the way they like.
"If something doesn’t look right, flag a cop, call 911, or call the counter terrorism hotline, 1-888-NYC-SAFE," O'Neill said.
