1/12/2019 Updated review

(1) OVERVIEW: Village Halloween Parade in New York City is truly a gigantic annual holiday parade and street pageant presented on the night (7 PM sharp to about 10 PM) of every Halloween in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan, New York. Physically (with 50,000 participants and 2 million spectators in 2018, according to the published report), the Village Halloween Parade is the world's largest Halloween Parade and artistic parade, in addition to the only official nighttime parade in New York City. (There are many small community parades which runs all day long including the night time, such as the anti-gang parade in Coney Island area of Brooklyn, New York, where I lived for 15 years.)



Village Halloween Parade had a very humble and small beginning. It was founded and the parade's frame work was created in 1973 by Greenwich Village puppeteer and mask maker Ralph Lee. (Now you know why the animated countless giant puppets of this parade is so important historically as well.) This year, 2018 marks the 45th anniversary of the Village Halloween Parade. (Time flied since I first saw this grand scale night parade in 2000, when I moved here from Chicago, Illinois.)



As you see in its so many PR visuals, Village Halloween Parade's most promoted signature image is the endless number of animated large and giant puppets by literally hundreds of volunteers. (Unfortunately, I have never seen them in person for nearly 20 years. This is because the location, where I see & join this giant parade is so far away from theiur location every year.) Also, in addition to these visually impressive puppets, you see many marching bands and decorated parade floats. (I was on the paradfe float of the Lola Star's Skate Rink of Coney Island Beach a few years ago. It was quite a view and fun.)



(2) ROUTE: Make sure to consult with the latest published information of the parade route, street closing, and nearest available subway station always. The official route is on the Sixth Avenue (from Spring Street to 16th Street). It is about 1.4 miles long parade BUT it is about 0.2 miles longer when you include the gathering spot. (And this is the reason why I never saw the giant puppets at the parade every year, unfortunately.) The route is completely blocked by the metal barricades and with countless police officers.



(3) MARCHING AT THE VILLAGE HALLOWEEN PARADE: Village Halloween Parade is a combination of the street carnivals, parades, parties, and spontaneous events. Specifically, each individual marchers (you, me, and anyone) can just show up in costume at the starting point without registering or paying any fees/charges (UNLIKE the money-charging annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade in Brooklyn, where $20+ are charged for marchers!).



IMPORTANT: YOU CAN NOT JOIN THE PARADE AT ALL BETWEEN THE STARTING POINT AND ENDING POINT. EVEN WHEN YOU HAD TO GO TO THE RESTAURANT'S BATHROOM DURING THE PARADE AND CAME BACK. POLICE WILL NOT LET YOU JUMP OVER THE BARRICADE OR RE-JOIN YOUR MARCHING GROUP! SO, MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT DRINK ANY LIQUID FOR SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE THE PARADE, IF YOU WANT MARCH AT THE PARADE.



(4) COSTUMES & COSPLAYS: If you are a Layer ("Reiyaa". Cosplayer), this is another great event to show off yourself in your favorite costumes just as you do at the NY Comic Con and AnimeNYC in this city. Best place to see and take photos are in the parade (NOT outside of the barricades). I highly recommend you to personally experience this truly breathtaking, beautiful, spontaneous, wild, crazy, fun and inspirational Village Halloween Parade in person.



(6) TOPLESS IS LEGAL BUT I DID NOT SEE ANY TOPLESS WOMEN AT THIS PARADE SINCE 2000: Although topless is completely legal for women (or men) under any current laws and regulations here in New York city, I have not seen any topless women in the Village Halloween Parade (UNLIKE the Gay Pride Parade and Mermaid Parade) since I first visited Village Halloween Parade. This may due to the cool, chilly and even cold temperature of the time of the year - October 31. So far, I personally saw only a handful ladies in the one piece bathing suits, bikini and bikini costume at this parade. I was pleasantly surprised to meet a lady in the cosplay of Lum (ラム, Ramu. Lum Invader. She was a space invader to the Earth.) from the Japanese super popular TV anime series "Urusei Yatsura (うる星やつら, originally aired 1981 - 1986)". LOL



(7) FINAL NOTE: PROTECT YOUR WALLETS FROM THE TEAM OF PICK POCKET THUGS: The parade route becomes extremely congested with people. Please make sure securing your wallets in the money belt (and split your money in several wallets; the teamed up & well-trained pockets are everywhere and police officers will NOT help you at all, when you become the victim at all, sadly, based on my very unpleasant personal experience.



Dr. Takeshi Yamada and Seara (Coney Island sea rabbit)

My gorgeous many dozens of photos will be all posted here soon.