This Would Have Been the 47th Annual Parade!

OPEN LETTER TO THE HALLOWEEN COMMUNITY
From Jeanne Fleming, Artistic and Producing Director

September 10, 2020

Why do we do the Halloween Parade? Because we LOVE New Yorkers and their vast creativity!

Why are we cancelling the Halloween Parade this year? For the very same reason. Because we love YOU ALL too much to endanger you and we care about your health and well-being.

This year’s theme was to be: BIG LOVE! BIG EMBRACE! To include all New Yorkers in a joyful celebration of our unique collective imagination.

The Halloween Parade is all about the connection between the participants—all those who walk in the Parade in costume—and our audience (the rest of New York!). That person to person connection is at the heart of this event. We do not want to lose all of this joyful time, this irrepressible spirit of NYC and the marvelous creative folks who make up the Parade and the joyful souls who watch and play.

As the New York Times once said: “the Halloween Parade is the best entertainment that the people of this city give to people of this city”.

As we considered doing “something” online this year as place holder, we felt that idea went against all that the parade stands for: this LIVE interaction between folks.

So, we realized that the Parade could not/should not happen online.

So what will happen?

Halloween is all about Trick or Treat! So, we are going to do a trick that will be a treat! Like the Parade itself—which is a spontaneous gathering of people, our Halloween treat will be spontaneous and unannounced and unique to our night Parade.

Our tricky treat will happen on Halloween night and it will be Covid safe! Keep tuned for hints…but just like the child who comes to your door on Halloween, you won’t know who it is or what it is till you see it! BOO!

As is the tradition, Master Puppeteer Basil Twist’s Giant Spider will come out of the Tower of the Jefferson Market Library in the psychic heart of Greenwich Village on Halloween night. High above the street, she will practice social distancing of an arachnid sort! You may catch a glimpse of her, So, LOOK UP!

So, Halloween lovers of New York, we are not abandoning you—the Spirit of Halloween will be in NYC—except this year, instead of YOU surprising US when you arrive to be in the Parade, WE will surprise YOU and keep the spirit alive.

And remember…in the spirit of Halloween—WEAR YOUR MASK Every day!

Watch a Retrospective Look at past Parades on NY1 on 10/31/20 at 7 pm.

NY1, our official telecast, will present a Look Back at past Parades for your enjoyment at 7 pm on Halloween Night!

“This pageant evokes the muses.”

We are proud to announce that the Village Halloween Parade is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Village Halloween Parade, inc. is a 501c3 not-for-profit arts organization. All donations are tax deductible.

Support Creativity. Donate HERE!