This year, Halloween falls on Saturday, Oct. 31. The Village Halloween Parade in Manhattan starts at 7 p.m. at Canal Street and marches up Sixth Avenue to 15th Street. This year's theme is "Body & Soul." Anyone in costume can join the parade for free at the intersection of Canal Street and Sixth Avenue between 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Spectators in street clothes cannot enter the procession.
This year, Halloween falls on Saturday, Oct. 31. Unlike years when it lands on a weekday, it is a good day to take children out trick-or-treating, and for adults to stay out late.
The Village Halloween Parade in Manhattan begins at 7 p.m. that evening. It starts at Canal Street, heads north along Sixth Avenue and ends at 15th Street. This year's theme is "Body & Soul," which explores the relationship between the body and the spirit within it. More than 50 bands, dance troupes and artists are taking part, and the procession continues until around 11 p.m.
You Can Walk Along, Not Just Watch
What sets this parade apart is that anyone can take part. As long as you are in costume, no registration or participation fee is required. Between 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., go to the spot where Canal Street meets Sixth Avenue and get in line. Participants are sent off in groups in order.
However, you cannot enter the procession in street clothes. If you are not in costume, you will have to watch from the sidewalk. If you plan to walk with your children, every member of the family should wear at least something.
Taking the subway is the better way to get there. Sixth Avenue, the parade route, is closed all evening, and surrounding streets are blocked off as well. Many people who drive end up spending the whole evening on parking and detours. The crowds are heaviest between 8th and 14th streets, so if you are bringing children, you will find it less crowded watching a bit farther north, near 15th Street.
Neighborhood Trick-or-Treating
More Korean American families actually take part in neighborhood trick-or-treating than in the parade. Most New Jersey towns announce recommended hours, usually in the afternoon, so check your town's website or the police department's social media. The sun starts setting in the 4 p.m. hour at this time of year, so it gets dark sooner than you might expect.
With children running along dark streets, drivers and pedestrians alike need to be more careful than usual. Putting reflective stickers on children's clothes or bags and sending them out with a small flashlight will make them easier to see. Costumes that are all black are especially hard to spot on night streets. Masks often block a child's view, so face paint is safer than a mask for young children.
It is a good habit to go through the candy at home once your children bring it back. Set aside anything with torn packaging or treats that appear to be homemade, and if your child has a nut allergy, check the ingredient labels. A practice has also spread in recent years of putting out a teal pumpkin at homes that give toys instead of candy for children with allergies.