The Village Halloween Parade: A Celebration of Identity
Every year on October 31, the Village Halloween Parade draws over 2 million people to Sixth Avenue, featuring creative costumes, larger-than-life puppets, and a flash mob of the iconic "Thriller" dance.
The event has grown in popularity since its inception in 1973, but it originated as a rare space where queer and drag communities could freely express themselves.
- Drag performers in high-fashion yet ghoulish costumes
- Elton John lookalikes and queer Victorian-era couples
- Larger-than-life puppets and a flash mob of the "Thriller" dance
The first parade, led by mask and puppet designer Ralph Lee, was only a door-to-door walk around Lee's neighborhood.
The following year, Lee formalized the event for the Theater for the New City, which has long supported the LGBTQ+ community.
Author's summary: A Halloween parade that celebrates identity and self-expression.