Halloween in New York: The Village Parade and Spooky Day Trips

New York goes all in on Halloween. Brownstone stoops fill with pumpkins, whole neighborhoods dress up and one of the world's biggest Halloween parades takes over Greenwich Village. Here is how to plan the season around a few of the best moments.

For the rest of your New York days, see the New York guide.

The Village Halloween Parade

The Village Halloween Parade is New York's signature Halloween night. In 2026, the 53rd parade takes place on Saturday, October 31, starting at 7 pm. It is famous for being open to anyone in costume, with giant puppets, bands and thousands of participants.

• Watching: arrive early for a spot along the route; it gets very crowded.
• Marching: come in costume and check the official site for the line-up area.
• Getting home: expect street closures and busy subways around Greenwich Village.

Green-Wood Cemetery

In Brooklyn, Green-Wood Cemetery is a 19th-century landscape of hills, ponds, mausoleums and sculpture, with views back to Manhattan. It runs tours and events, some of them seasonal. Check the official calendar and visit in daylight.

Brownstone Brooklyn and the Village

Some of the best Halloween decorating happens on ordinary residential streets. Walking the brownstone blocks of Brooklyn neighborhoods or the West Village in late October is free and full of surprises. Keep to the sidewalk and respect the homes.

A day trip to Sleepy Hollow

North of the city along the Hudson, Sleepy Hollow is the setting of Washington Irving's tale of the Headless Horseman, and the area leans into it every autumn with events and tours. Trains run up the Hudson Valley from Grand Central. Seasonal events usually need timed tickets, so book before you go.

Sample plan

Day	Plan
1	Green-Wood Cemetery, then brownstone Brooklyn at dusk
2	Day trip to Sleepy Hollow
3	October 31: the Village Halloween Parade

For a non-spooky day, pair this with the Brooklyn Bridge walk to DUMBO.