The Village Halloween Parade is an annual holiday parade on the night of every Halloween, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. The parade, initiated on October 31, 1974 by Greenwich Village puppeteer and mask maker Ralph Lee, is the world's largest Halloween parade and the only major nighttime parade in the United States.[1] The parade reports itself to have 50,000 "costumed participants"[3] and 2 million spectators.[4] The parade has its roots in New York's queer community.[2]
The Village Halloween Parade has been called "New York's Carnival." The parade is largely a spontaneous event as individual marchers can just show up in costume at the starting point without registering or paying anything.[5][6] The parade's signature features include its large puppets, which are animated by hundreds of volunteers. The official parade theme each year is applied to the puppets.[7] In addition to the puppets, more than 50 marching bands participate each year. In addition, there are some commercial Halloween parade floats.
The official route, on Sixth Avenue from Spring Street to 16th Street in Manhattan, is 1.4 miles long (the distance from the gathering spot on Sixth Avenue from Canal Street to Spring Street adds another 0.2 miles). The parade usually starts at 7 PM and lasts for about two to three hours.[8]
In,[9] an informal parade of puppets for children was organized by Ralph Lee of the Mettawee River Theatre Company around his residence of artists in the Westbeth Artists Community. The next year, the parade went from Jane Street at the Hudson River to Washington Square Park. About 200 adults and children participated.[10][11] The 1975 parade was produced by the Theatre for the New City[12] (which at the time was in Westbeth). Lee and the Theatre won Obie Award for the production. The 1975 parade grew to 1,500 participants. The new management introduced more adult elements into the event including a Halloween ball after the parade.[13][14][15] Organization of the parade was formally handled by a non-profit organization starting in 1976.[13]
In 1977, the route was changed to 10th Street between Greenwich Avenue to Fifth Avenue and still ending in Washington Square. A devil sat at the top of the Washington Square arch where it released balloons and slid down a wire into the fountain. The year also saw the first appearance of giant spider on the Jefferson Market Library.[13] The parade continued to start at Westbeth until 1983. Two years later, with crowds expanding to 250,000, the route was moved from side streets to Sixth Avenue from Spring Street to 22nd Street (although in practice the gathering point was further south at Canal Street and the northern point would be shortened to 16th Street.[5] The change in route ended the connection to Washington Square Park. Jeanne Fleming became the Artistic and Producing Director.[13]
In 1990, New York University and Manhattan Community Board 2 begin hosting an unrelated Children's Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village in the afternoons in Washington Square.[16]Sophia Michahelles and Alex Kahn become the official designers of the parade's puppets in 1998,[17] and the following year, Basil Twist designed the spider that currently appears on the Jefferson Market Library.[18]
Less than seven weeks after the September 11 attacks in 2001, the parade was broadcast worldwide and was an indication that New York was bouncing back.[19] The parade was led by a giant puppet of a Phoenix rising out of the ashes. Noticeably missing from the parade was Bread and Puppet Theater which had been a political staple of the parade but was protesting the new War in Afghanistan.[20] Earlier the Bread and Puppet contingent consisted of five blocks of its giant puppets.[21] Similarly, less than 8 weeks after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, more than 8,000 storm evacuees attended a funeral procession tribute as part of the parade.[citation needed] In 2010, Haitian Carnival Artist Didier Civil created Haitian carnival figures as a tribute to victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.[19]
The parade was cancelled for the first time in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, which had heavily damaged coastal New York City and had left Greenwich Village without electricity during the parade time.[19] The next year, a Kickstarter campaign to cover costs of the 2012 closing saved the parade from permanently closing.[19] The campaign raised $56,000, surpassing its goal of $50,000.[22]
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, the parade was canceled for the first time in eight years. The parade's organizers cited concerns that social distancing would be impossible with the high crowds that the parade typically saw.[24][25]
ThemeEdit
In 2001, the parade presented a work of puppetry that would become celebrated for its artistry, and remembered in the city's history. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, events citywide and nationwide were being either scrapped or postponed. Organizers believed the parade would give the city a much-needed emotional release, reform the community, and help it to begin the healing process. They felt that this was the most positive way they, as artists, could serve the city at such a desperate time. "This is the meaning of the Dancing Skeletons that always lead the march: they know better than anyone what they have lost, and so they dance this one night of the year to celebrate life," Fleming told CNN in an interview.
By September 15, Fleming had scrapped the old theme and chosen a new one. Although no one was certain the parade would take place, designer Sophia Michahelles conceived of a new theme, Phoenix Rising, to galvanize the spirit of New York in the wake of the tragedy. A giant puppet of a phoenix, the mythical bird that rises up out of its own ashes, was created by Michahelles in the workshop of Official Parade Puppeteers Superior Concept Monsters. The animated creation was mechanically configured to spread its wings and rise out of fiery ashes, represented by flickering lanterns lifted on poles, encircling the parading figure. On October 25 the parade received final authorization to go ahead. In light of the widely established community relationships which Fleming had cultivated, and the parade's long tradition, Mayor Rudy Giuliani insisted it go on.
Cultural impactEdit
The parade has been studied by leading cultural anthropologists. According to The New York Times, "the Halloween Parade is the best entertainment the people of this City ever give the people of this City." "Absolutely anything goes," says USA Today. "Be prepared to drop your jaw."[citation needed]
Celebration artist Jeanne Fleming, the parade's artistic and producing director
Twenty-foot illuminated caterpillars — animated pageant sized puppets designed by Alex Kahn of Superior Concept Monsters — transform Manhattan's Greenwich Village in 1998 (the former Twin Towers are prominently seen in the background)
^Laneri, Raquel (29 October 2016). "The founder of NYC's Halloween Parade fears he created a beast". New York Post. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
^"What Happened to the Halloween Parade?". www.nytheatre-wire.com. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
^. www.theaterforthenewcity.net. Archived from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
^ abcdSchulz, Dana (12 October 2022). "A history of the Village Halloween Parade: Puppets, performers, and NYC pride - 6sqft". 6sqft. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
^Skal, David J. (20 June 2016). Halloween: The History of America's Darkest Holiday. Courier Dover Publications. ISBN9780486805214. Retrieved 6 November 2017 – via Google Books.
^Franks, Don (22 September 2004). Entertainment Awards: A Music, Cinema, Theatre and Broadcasting Guide, 1928 through 2003, 3d ed. McFarland. ISBN9781476608068. Retrieved 6 November 2017 – via Google Books.
^"27th Annual Children's Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village, Oct. 31, 2017".
^"Processional Arts Workshop: People". www.superiorconcept.org. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
^ abcd"About Us - NYC Village Halloween Parade". 28 June 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
^Kalish, Jon (30 June 2013). "50 Years Of Bread And Puppet Theater". Retrieved 6 November 2017.
^Bell, John (30 April 2016). American Puppet Modernism: Essays on the Material World in Performance. Springer. ISBN9780230613768. Retrieved 6 November 2017 – via Google Books.
Gopinathan, Nishanth (September 29, 2013). "Halloween Day Parade in Greenwich Village". New York Visit.
Laperruque (2013). Treaters: The Greenwich Village Halloween Parade — 1982–86. Blurb. Self published photobook
October 15, 2023
york, village, halloween, parade, village, halloween, parade, annual, holiday, parade, night, every, halloween, greenwich, village, neighborhood, york, city, parade, initiated, october, 1974, greenwich, village, puppeteer, mask, maker, ralph, world, largest, h. The Village Halloween Parade is an annual holiday parade on the night of every Halloween in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City The parade initiated on October 31 1974 by Greenwich Village puppeteer and mask maker Ralph Lee is the world s largest Halloween parade and the only major nighttime parade in the United States 1 The parade reports itself to have 50 000 costumed participants 3 and 2 million spectators 4 The parade has its roots in New York s queer community 2 Greenwich Village Halloween ParadeThe annual Greenwich Village Halloween Parade in Manhattan is the world s largest Halloween parade 1 and has its roots in New York s queer community 2 Tall rod puppets a signature of the parade Papier mache masks reflect the evening s Mardi Gras atmosphere A Tusken Raider rides a mammoth sized Bantha puppet designed by Oliver Dalzell The Village Halloween Parade has been called New York s Carnival The parade is largely a spontaneous event as individual marchers can just show up in costume at the starting point without registering or paying anything 5 6 The parade s signature features include its large puppets which are animated by hundreds of volunteers The official parade theme each year is applied to the puppets 7 In addition to the puppets more than 50 marching bands participate each year In addition there are some commercial Halloween parade floats The official route on Sixth Avenue from Spring Street to 16th Street in Manhattan is 1 4 miles long the distance from the gathering spot on Sixth Avenue from Canal Street to Spring Street adds another 0 2 miles The parade usually starts at 7 PM and lasts for about two to three hours 8 Contents 1 Historical timeline 2 Theme 3 Cultural impact 4 Gallery 5 References 6 Other sources 6 1 Videos 6 2 Photographs 7 External linksHistorical timeline EditIn 9 an informal parade of puppets for children was organized by Ralph Lee of the Mettawee River Theatre Company around his residence of artists in the Westbeth Artists Community The next year the parade went from Jane Street at the Hudson River to Washington Square Park About 200 adults and children participated 10 11 The 1975 parade was produced by the Theatre for the New City 12 which at the time was in Westbeth Lee and the Theatre won Obie Award for the production The 1975 parade grew to 1 500 participants The new management introduced more adult elements into the event including a Halloween ball after the parade 13 14 15 Organization of the parade was formally handled by a non profit organization starting in 1976 13 In 1977 the route was changed to 10th Street between Greenwich Avenue to Fifth Avenue and still ending in Washington Square A devil sat at the top of the Washington Square arch where it released balloons and slid down a wire into the fountain The year also saw the first appearance of giant spider on the Jefferson Market Library 13 The parade continued to start at Westbeth until 1983 Two years later with crowds expanding to 250 000 the route was moved from side streets to Sixth Avenue from Spring Street to 22nd Street although in practice the gathering point was further south at Canal Street and the northern point would be shortened to 16th Street 5 The change in route ended the connection to Washington Square Park Jeanne Fleming became the Artistic and Producing Director 13 In 1990 New York University and Manhattan Community Board 2 begin hosting an unrelated Children s Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village in the afternoons in Washington Square 16 Sophia Michahelles and Alex Kahn become the official designers of the parade s puppets in 1998 17 and the following year Basil Twist designed the spider that currently appears on the Jefferson Market Library 18 Less than seven weeks after the September 11 attacks in 2001 the parade was broadcast worldwide and was an indication that New York was bouncing back 19 The parade was led by a giant puppet of a Phoenix rising out of the ashes Noticeably missing from the parade was Bread and Puppet Theater which had been a political staple of the parade but was protesting the new War in Afghanistan 20 Earlier the Bread and Puppet contingent consisted of five blocks of its giant puppets 21 Similarly less than 8 weeks after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 more than 8 000 storm evacuees attended a funeral procession tribute as part of the parade citation needed In 2010 Haitian Carnival Artist Didier Civil created Haitian carnival figures as a tribute to victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake 19 The parade was cancelled for the first time in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 which had heavily damaged coastal New York City and had left Greenwich Village without electricity during the parade time 19 The next year a Kickstarter campaign to cover costs of the 2012 closing saved the parade from permanently closing 19 The campaign raised 56 000 surpassing its goal of 50 000 22 Less than four hours after eight people were killed six blocks west of the parade route in the 2017 New York City truck attack the parade proceeded as scheduled Both Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov Andrew Cuomo marched in the parade 23 In 2020 during the COVID 19 pandemic in New York City the parade was canceled for the first time in eight years The parade s organizers cited concerns that social distancing would be impossible with the high crowds that the parade typically saw 24 25 Theme EditIn 2001 the parade presented a work of puppetry that would become celebrated for its artistry and remembered in the city s history After the September 11 2001 attacks events citywide and nationwide were being either scrapped or postponed Organizers believed the parade would give the city a much needed emotional release reform the community and help it to begin the healing process They felt that this was the most positive way they as artists could serve the city at such a desperate time This is the meaning of the Dancing Skeletons that always lead the march they know better than anyone what they have lost and so they dance this one night of the year to celebrate life Fleming told CNN in an interview By September 15 Fleming had scrapped the old theme and chosen a new one Although no one was certain the parade would take place designer Sophia Michahelles conceived of a new theme Phoenix Rising to galvanize the spirit of New York in the wake of the tragedy A giant puppet of a phoenix the mythical bird that rises up out of its own ashes was created by Michahelles in the workshop of Official Parade Puppeteers Superior Concept Monsters The animated creation was mechanically configured to spread its wings and rise out of fiery ashes represented by flickering lanterns lifted on poles encircling the parading figure On October 25 the parade received final authorization to go ahead In light of the widely established community relationships which Fleming had cultivated and the parade s long tradition Mayor Rudy Giuliani insisted it go on Cultural impact EditThe parade has been studied by leading cultural anthropologists According to The New York Times the Halloween Parade is the best entertainment the people of this City ever give the people of this City Absolutely anything goes says USA Today Be prepared to drop your jaw citation needed The parade is also themed in the video game Tycoon City New York published in 2006 26 Gallery Edit nbsp Parade participant 2004 nbsp Exotic masquerader in beads feathers headdress and face paint 2004 nbsp A masquerader poses in front of a wrought iron fence in historic Greenwich Village nbsp Celebration artist Jeanne Fleming the parade s artistic and producing director nbsp Twenty foot illuminated caterpillars animated pageant sized puppets designed by Alex Kahn of Superior Concept Monsters transform Manhattan s Greenwich Village in 1998 the former Twin Towers are prominently seen in the background nbsp An incandescent baby phoenix conceived and designed by Sophia Michahelles of Superior Concept Monsters rises from fiery ashes to new life in 2001 after the September 11 attacks nbsp Finishing touches are made to a giant dinosaur puppet in the staging area on parade dayReferences Edit a b Village Halloween Parade a b Bryan van Gorder October 22 2018 THE QUEER HISTORY AND PRESENT OF NYC S VILLAGE HALLOWEEN PARADE Logo TV Retrieved November 10 2022 Village Halloween Parade 31 October 2021 Village Halloween Parade History of the Parade Archived from the original on July 27 2014 Retrieved July 28 2014 a b Participate NYC Village Halloween Parade 28 June 2016 Retrieved 6 November 2017 Costume Contest NYC Village Halloween Parade 22 March 2017 Retrieved 6 November 2017 Artistry NYC Village Halloween Parade Retrieved 6 November 2017 Village Halloween Parade in NYC guide 1973 Laneri Raquel 29 October 2016 The founder of NYC s Halloween Parade fears he created a beast New York Post Retrieved 6 November 2017 What Happened to the Halloween Parade www nytheatre wire com Retrieved 6 November 2017 Theater for the New City Production History 1970 1979 www theaterforthenewcity net Archived from the original on 21 November 2017 Retrieved 6 November 2017 a b c d Schulz Dana 12 October 2022 A history of the Village Halloween Parade Puppets performers and NYC pride 6sqft 6sqft Retrieved 6 November 2017 Skal David J 20 June 2016 Halloween The History of America s Darkest Holiday Courier Dover Publications ISBN 9780486805214 Retrieved 6 November 2017 via Google Books Franks Don 22 September 2004 Entertainment Awards A Music Cinema Theatre and Broadcasting Guide 1928 through 2003 3d ed McFarland ISBN 9781476608068 Retrieved 6 November 2017 via Google Books 27th Annual Children s Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village Oct 31 2017 Processional Arts Workshop People www superiorconcept org Retrieved 6 November 2017 Halloween a b c d About Us NYC Village Halloween Parade 28 June 2016 Retrieved 6 November 2017 Kalish Jon 30 June 2013 50 Years Of Bread And Puppet Theater Retrieved 6 November 2017 Bell John 30 April 2016 American Puppet Modernism Essays on the Material World in Performance Springer ISBN 9780230613768 Retrieved 6 November 2017 via Google Books Bring Halloween Back to NYC Boone Ruschell 1 November 2017 Village Halloween Parade marches with message after terror attack www ny1 com Retrieved 6 November 2017 Italiano Laura 2020 09 09 NYC s Greenwich Village Halloween Parade is canceled due to COVID 19 concerns New York Post Retrieved 2020 09 15 Caturano Shannon 9 September 2020 Greenwich Village Halloween Parade Canceled Due to Coronavirus www ny1 com Retrieved 2020 09 15 Tycoon City New York at gamefaqs gamespot comOther sources EditVideos Edit Karl Gober1999 Halloween Parade on YouTube 2000 Halloween Parade Life Cycle of a Parade Note Each chapter is about one minute long Note Twin Towers in background on their last Halloween Chp 01 Hibernation on YouTube Chp 02 Sewing the seeds on YouTube Chp 03 Fever Pitch on YouTube Chp 05 First Run on YouTube Chp 06 Incarnation on YouTube dd Chp 07 First Flight on YouTube Chp 08 Tower of Basil on YouTube Chp 10 Offering on YouTube Chp 11 Parade on YouTube2004 Halloween Parade on YouTube 2006 Halloween Parade on YouTube dd Superior Concept Monsters Theme Performances2006 Jack on YouTube 2007 Wings of Desire on YouTube 2008 Ghost Superior on YouTube 2009 Terra Incognita on YouTube 2010 Memento Mori on YouTube2010 Halloween on YouTube Street photo montage Kenneth Akama Photographs Edit Village Halloween Parade NY Daily News Photos 39th Annual Village Halloween Parade Time Out New York Nov 2011 NYCfoto 2014 2013 2011 2010 2009 2008 Skillings Pamela Halloween Dog Parade in Tompkins Square Park About com Archived from the original on 2007 02 27 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to New York s Village Halloween Parade Official website Superior Concept Monsters Official Puppeteers for New York s Village Halloween Parade Village Halloween Parade NYC 2013 Sandy Natalie October 28 2011 Behind the scenes of the Village Halloween Parade Time Out New York Skillings Pamela 2012 Village Halloween Parade About com Gopinathan Nishanth September 29 2013 Halloween Day Parade in Greenwich Village New York Visit Laperruque 2013 Treaters The Greenwich Village Halloween Parade 1982 86 Blurb Self published photobook Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title New York 27s Village Halloween Parade amp oldid 1179291246, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
