It’s big – the world’s largest Halloween celebration. It’s loud – with dozens of marching bands and musicians. And it’s creative – packed with intricate costumes and massive, ornate puppets bobbing up Sixth Avenue.
Organizers, puppeteers and partygoers are all preparing for this year’s 43rd annual Village Halloween Parade on Monday.
Organizers will handle the logistics, bracing for a 50,000-strong procession and up to two million spectators. Puppeteers, including the parade’s artistic director, Basil Twist, are readying to amaze revelers with beautiful and spooky creations. And some parade attendees are going to Abracadabra, a costume store in Flatiron, to get the final touches – such as spears and feather boas – to complete their alter-ego outfits.
This year’s theme is “Reverie,” and will feature larger-than-life, white, glittering puppets made in the Hudson River Valley.
“It’s this tsunami of color and creativity and sexiness and excitement,” Twist said of the parade.
