The annual Village Halloween Parade is back and is sure to give you a scare! It's one of NYC's biggest events of the year, howling over 50,000 participants from giant puppets to bands, dancers, artists, and thousands of New Yorkers in costume! Whether you'd like to participate or watch from the sidelines, it's an event you have to see to believe, so grab your ghoul friends and basic witches and prepare for this fangtastic night out by using our guide!

Who can march? ONLY those in costume can take part. There is no registration, so just show up and be prepared to scare! Also, don't forget to dress to impress, if you've got it, haunt it!

Do I have to pay? NOPE, its free!

Is there a costume contest? YES! If you are IN the Parade, you are IN the contest! There will be secret scouts that haunt through the parade and hand contact cards to those who have the best costumes. Winners will be chosen from those who contact the scouters back!

How to march: The parade lines up at Sixth Ave and Canal St starting at 6:30pm, which is when North and West entrances to Sixth Ave will be blocked off. If you decide to come later on in the night join the line from East Broome, Sullivan and Canal streets east of Sixth Ave. Participants can only enter from the East and South sides.

I won't be marching but still would like to watch, where do I go? There's still plenty of ways to have fun on the sidelines! If you'd like to watch along them, we recommend you get to Sixth Ave early and grab a spot before the parade starts. If you can't make the parade, watch it on local channel NY1 from 8 to 9:30pm.

Official After Party: Party for a cause and help fund a cure for AIDS at the official after party of the Halloween Parade, starting at 10:30pm at 150 1st Avenue. Don't forget to enter for a chance to win the $5,000 costume prize!

Anything else I should know? If you aren't marching, don't plan on crossing Sixth Avenue anywhere along the route during the parade, as it will be barricaded off by authorities. The parade is also intended to be kid-friendly, so come enjoy it with the whole family!

Happy haunting, ghoul friends!