Village Halloween Parade Returns to Greenwich Village, NYC, on Oct. 31 With Joey Arias and "Firehorse!"

New York's Village Halloween Parade marks its 53rd year on Saturday, October 31, 2026, starting at 7 p.m. in Greenwich Village. The organizer, Village Halloween Parade, Inc., is a nonprofit arts group, and its website says the event goes ahead rain, shine or wind. Anyone can watch, and people in costume are welcome to march. Tickets for special access are sold through the parade's site, and Spectrum News NY1 will present the parade live at 8 p.m.

This year's theme is "Body & Soul," and with 2026 being the Year of the Horse, the march will be led by a new performance called "Firehorse!" The puppet was commissioned from Basil Twist, a MacArthur "Genius" and master puppeteer, with choreography by performance artist Julie Atlas Muz and production by Barbara Busackino of Tandem Otter Productions. The dancing firehorses are meant to clear a path for the thousands of costumed participants following behind.

The grand marshal is Joey Arias, a downtown fixture whose work spans cabaret, jazz singing, songwriting, cult film, theater and drag. Arias has toured internationally and appeared in Cirque du Soleil's "Zu-manity," and is currently performing in "Arias with a Twist" at HERE Theater.

Two official parties tie in with the weekend. "The Vampire Ball" takes over Industry City on Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31, with doors at 9 p.m. and music on ten stages until 5 a.m. On the 31st it doubles as the post-parade afterparty. Both nights are for guests 21 and older.

The parade receives part of its funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and donations to the nonprofit are tax deductible. The official site also sells parade merchandise.