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Best Halloween Parades in New York City for Kids in 2024

Dumbo's Dumboween parade features live music and puppets on Halloween. Photo by Ming Fai Chan
Dumbo's Dumboween parade features live music and puppets on Halloween. Photo by Ming Fai Chan
10/13/24 - By Drew Kristofik

There's nothing quite like a neighborhood Halloween parade in NYC, from the iconic Village Halloween Parade on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan to the smaller, kid-friendly NYC neighborhood Halloween parades, including the Jackson Heights Halloween Parade, the famed Park Slope march, and the Bleecker Playground fest for little ones.

Our list of top NYC Halloween parades even includes pet parades and costume contests that allow dogs to line up in fantastic outfits in Carl Schurz Park and beyond.

If you don't live in a great trick-or-treating neighborhood, these Halloween parades in NYC are a wonderful way to hunt for candy in another neighborhood. Find more 2024 Halloween fun in our New York City Kids Halloween Fun Guide, which includes our picks for the best FREE Halloween events in NYC.

Keep in mind, in case of rain, some parades may be postponed or canceled. As always, be sure to click through to each event's website before heading out.

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OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Halloween Parades in NYC through Wednesday, October 30, 2024

39th Annual Bronx Halloween Parade

Longwood, the Bronx – FREE
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Celebrating its 39th year, this beloved community-based event continues to serve as a safe space for children and adults alike to enjoy the spirit of Halloween. This year’s theme is "Zombie Apocalypse," so get ready for a frightfully fun time!   READ MORE

4th Annual Sutton Spooktacular Celebration

Upper East Side – FREE
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Sutton Place Parks Conservancy hosts a fun Halloween party, with games, crafts, sports, storytelling, and FDNY and NYPD vehicles to explore, plus a costume parade for pooches and kids. READ MORE

Children's Halloween Festival and Parade on Coney Island

Coney Island, Brooklyn – FREE
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Head to Maimonides Park for a day of free Halloween activities from face painting to inflatable mazes, photo-ops, and more. Open to participants 14 and under in costume (an adult must accompany all minors), the first 1,000 children receive a free wristband to Luna Park in Coney Island to use after the parade. READ MORE

Halloween Spooktacular at the McBurney YMCA

Chelsea – FREE
Saturday, October 26, 2024
The McBurney YMCA shares fall favorite activities, including haunted desserts, pumpkin crafts, and a costume parade at 1:30pm.  READ MORE

Kimera Festival Halloween on W. 111th Street

Upper West Side – FREE
Saturday, October 26, 2024
The International Brazilian Opera Company and the West 111th Block Association host a series of street concerts combined with storytelling events. October's celebration includes a costume parade and tons of Halloween-themed fun.  READ MORE

Children's Halloween Festival at Bleecker Playground

Greenwich Village – FREE
Sunday, October 27, 2024
This annual celebration begins with a toddler-friendly costume parade around the nabe to the Bleecker Street Playground, and includes face painting, craft tables, and trick-or-treating. READ MORE

Washington Market Park's Annual Halloween Costume Parade and Party

Tribeca – FREE
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Washington Market Park gathers the neighborhood ghouls and goblins together for a Halloween party and costume parade, led by the Queer Big Apple Corps Marching Band. Follow the band down Greenwich Street in your Halloween finest. READ MORE

Costume Contest and Mini-Halloween Parade at Old Stone House

Park Slope, Brooklyn– FREE
Sunday, October 27, 2024
It's that time of year! Dust off your hot glue guns and sewing skills - OSH's Halloween Costume Contest and mini-parade gets Halloween off to an early start. Halloween crafts and costume contest are held in the J.J. Byrne Playground. After the contest, all participants parade around Washington Park. READ MORE

Annual Halloween Parade at Urban Meadow

Columbia Waterfront District, Brooklyn – FREE
Sunday, October 27, 2024
The Urban Meadow garden group holds its annual Halloween party and parade through the Columbia Waterfront neighborhood. Come in costume! READ MORE

Halloween at Brooklyn Children's Museum

Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Sunday, October 27, 2024
The Brooklyn Children's Museum combines its usual costumed festivities with its first anime/manga-themed event. Trick-or-treat around the museum, meet creepy crawlies from BCM's living collection, and dive into the world of anime at the inaugural Kawaii Kreature Festival on BCM's rooftop. READ MORE

New York Ascarium!

Coney Island, Brooklyn
Weekends from Saturday, October 19-Sunday, October 27, 2024
The New York Aquarium dives into Halloween with marine-themed magic shows, Halloween crafts, a larger-than-life pumpkin display, Wildlife Theater shows, games, and more. READ MORE

Bronx Zoo: Boo at the Zoo

Bronx Park, the Bronx
Weekends through Sunday, October 27, 2024
Trek the candy trail, explore an extinct animal graveyard, and take in pumpkin carving demos as the Bronx Zoo's annual Halloween tradition returns, bringing with it tons of family-friendly activities. New this year: a trick-or-truth maze, face painting, a creepy mystery wall, and a Halloween mashup. Costumes are welcome. READ MORE

October at CMOM: Halloween, Rosh Hashanah, and More

Upper West Side
Puppy Stuffy Parade on Tuesday, October 29 and Wednesday, October 30, 2024
October at CMOM is all about Rosh Hashanah, Indigenous Peoples Day, Yom Kippur, and—of course—Halloween! Spooky celebrations include magic shows, trick-or-treat tote decorating, and even a stuffed-animal costume parade. READ MORE

Halloween Parades in NYC on Thursday, October 31, 2024

Jackson Heights Halloween Parade

Jackson Heights, Queens – FREE
The Jackson Heights Halloween Parade—NYC’s largest children’s Halloween parade—lines up once again at 89th Street and 37th Avenue and marches down 37th Avenue to PS 69. READ MORE

Dumboween: Halloween March to the Arch

Dumbo, Brooklyn – FREE
Put on your most creative costume, and head to Dumbo for a Halloween March to the Arch. Beginning at Washington Street, between Front and Water Streets, costumed participants parade to the Dumbo Archway, led by live music and puppets. READ MORE

Park Slope Halloween Parade

Park Slope, Brooklyn – FREE
The Park Slope Civic Council hosts the spookiest parade in Park Slope. Marchers line up at 7th Avenue and 14th Street and wind their way to the Old Stone House. Come early to trick-or-treat. READ MORE

Halloween Parade on City Island

City Island, the Bronx – FREE
This year’s City Island Halloween parade invites ghouls to gather at Hawkins Park at 5:30pm. Prizes are awarded for the best costumes. READ MORE

Halloween Parade and Costume Contest in Washington Square Park

Greenwich Village – FREE
One of the city's largest free children's events on Halloween features live performances, games, treats, and more! Gather at 3pm at the Washington Square Park Arch to begin the parade. READ MORE

Hippo Playground Halloween Parade

Upper West Side – FREE
The annual Hippo Playground Halloween Parade invites costumed kids to gather at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument at 89th Street and Riverside Drive and parade to Hippo Playground. READ MORE

Bryant Park Tricks and Treats

Midtown West – FREE
Bryant Park hosts a Halloween celebration with magic tricks, face painting, pumpkin decorating, arts and crafts, and a costume parade! READ MORE

51st Annual Village Halloween Parade

West Village – FREE
The world's most famous Halloween parade weaves through the streets of Greenwich Village once again. READ MORE

Pet Halloween Parades in NYC in October 2024

Doggie Halloween Costume Party in Irving Square Park

Bushwick, Brooklyn – FREE
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Dress up your furry friend in their most creative Halloween costume and let them strut their stuff, or just stop by to watch the pups parade.   READ MORE

34th Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Festival

Lower East Side – FREE
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Pooches let their alter-egos shine, parading in cute and creative costumes and vying for prizes. READ MORE

Halloween Howl & Healthy Hound Fair in Carl Schurz Park

Upper East Side – FREE
Sunday, October 20, 2024
The Howl is Carl Schurz Park's annual dog costume event. More than 200 creatively costumed pups strut their stuff before a blue-chip fashion industry coven of judges. READ MORE

26th Annual Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest in Fort Greene Park

Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Saturday, October 26, 2024
It's time to get your costume—and more importantly, your pup's—ready for Fort Greene Park's annual Halloween Festival and dog costume contest. READ MORE

BarktoberFest: Dog Costume Contest at Pier 57

Greenwich Village – FREE
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Dog owners and dog lovers alike are invited to Barktoberst, a special Yappy Hour celebration in partnership with Downtown Magazine. READ MORE

Riverside Park Pup Halloween Parade

Upper West Side – FREE
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Pups are encouraged to don their most creative costumes and parade through the park, spreading Halloween cheer and cuteness overload! All breeds, sizes, and spooky styles are welcome. The parade starts on the promenade by 116th Street and ends at Ellington in the Park with a Costume Contest, music, special giveaways and lots of Halloween merriment.   READ MORE

Dog Day Halloween Costume Party and Parade in Washington Square Park

Greenwich Village – FREE
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Celebrate Halloween with the WSP Dog Run Association by dressing your best furry buddy up in costume and competing in the cutest competition around. READ MORE

Pawlloween in Franz Sigel Park

South Bronx, the Bronx – FREE
Sunday, October 27, 2024
The biggest dog Halloween costume contest and community event in the Bronx invites dogs and owners dress-up and compete for prizes. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Old Stone House and JJ Bryne Playground
Urban Meadow Community Garden
City Island Hawkins Park