Pumpkin Arch at Seaport District. Photo by Don Stahl.

Halloween season has finally arrived, and with it comes plenty of spooky activities to do throughout the city. With Halloween on a Sunday this year, there are tons of fun Halloween events in NYC to attend leading up to and during the holiday. While most city blocks boast decorations, be sure to check out the Village Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village or stop to take a photo at the famous Pumpkin Arch in the Seaport District, which are just two of the highlights of this list. Read on for more Halloween-themed events happening throughout New York City’s five boroughs this week.

1. Village Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village

Village Halloween Parade in 2017. Photo courtesy of Halloween Parade Press Center.
Village Halloween Parade in 2017. Photo courtesy of Halloween Parade Press Center.

On October 31, the Village Halloween Parade will return to Greenwich Village. As one of the city’s spookiest processions and the nation’s largest public Halloween celebration, the parade features more than 50,000 zombies, ghouls, witches, monsters, robots, and Jedis. In past years, the parade has been viewed by more than four million people, and this year it will be live-streamed on NY1 starting at 8 p.m. The parade’s two themes for this year are LET’S PLAY and All Together NOW, and the parade is dedicated to the children of New York City who were unable to properly celebrate Halloween in 2020. Going along with the themes, children have been invited to submit drawings that will be used to create giant puppets for the parade. Comedian Randy Rainbow will serve as the Grand Marshal for this year’s parade due to his bravery and determination to sing truth to power and make the world laugh during hard times.

Marching in the parade is free for all, but costumes are mandatory. Members of the procession will begin lining up at Sixth Avenue and Canal Street around 6:30 p.m. and take off at 7 p.m. For those who wish to skip the line and march in the special theme section, $25 tickets can be purchased in advance. The parade will run up Sixth Avenue from Spring Street to 16th Street in Manhattan until around 9 p.m.