When the leaves turn red, orange and yellow and pumpkins are in season, it can only mean one thing. Halloween is right around the corner, and communities across the country prepare for their annual Halloween Parades!
Towns and cities across the US bring to life characters from their favorite folklore, fairy tales, and more, in Halloween celebrations for every audience.
Here, we list our 10 most must-see Halloween Parades in the US. From the classic traditions to eccentric performances, you’re in for a treat or trick!
Our Top 10 Best Halloween Parades
Check out our Top 10 list of best Halloween parades in the US, from New York to California.
- Village Halloween Parade – Greenwich Village, New York City, NY
- Village of Tarrytown Halloween Parade – Tarrytown, NY
- Salem Haunted Happenings Grand Parade – Salem, MA
- Anoka Grand Day Halloween Parade – Anoka, MN
- West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval – West Hollywood, CA
- Halloween in Manayunk – Philadelphia, PA
- Haunted Halsted Halloween Night Parade – Chicago, IL
- Bud Light Fantasy Fest Parade – Key West, FL
- Krewe of BOO! Halloween Parade– New Orleans, LA
- Portsmouth Halloween Parade – Portsmouth, NH
If you’re a big fan of parades, you may even decide to jet off to take part. Wherever you’re traveling to, don’t forget to plan ahead and reserve your airport parking. This way, you can save money and splash out on an even better Halloween costume!
Village Halloween Parade – Greenwich Village, New York City, NY
- Nearest Airport: LGA
- Date: Oct 31, 2025.
- Route Details: Starts at Canal St, then north up 6th Ave and ends at W 15th St.
- Famous For: World’s largest Halloween parade, with costumes, giant puppets, and LGBTQ+ community roots.
The NYC Greenwich Village Halloween Parade was founded by mask maker and puppeteer Ralph Lee in 1973. Since then, it has encouraged people to bring their wildest imaginations to life. The Greenwich Village Halloween Parade showcases and celebrates art, community, and difference all in one.
The parade takes place in the heart of New York’s LGBTQ+ community space. Known for its creativity and energy, the event draws thousands every year to celebrate freedom of expression.
There is, however, one rule that everyone must follow. To march in the parade, you need to be in costume. This tradition keeps the spirit alive. With glittering masks and larger-than-life outfits, the variety of costumes turns the streets into a living work of art.
Sleepy Hollow’s Village of Tarrytown Halloween Parade – Tarrytown, NY
- Nearest Airport: HPN
- Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025.
- Route Details: Starts at Patriot’s Park, marches south on Broadway, ends with a Main Street block party.
- Famous For: Family-friendly, literary-themed parade. Themed floats, live music, and costume prizes at a festive block party.
For a more family friendly New York Halloween Parade, Tarrytown is where you want to be. Sleepy Hollow’s Village of Tarrytown Halloween Parade is a festive and fun experience for all ages.
The event has key ties to Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The starting point of Patriot’s Park was the location of Wiley’s Swamp where Ichabod Crane spots the Headless Horseman. The Village of Tarrytown Halloween Parade is perfect for book lovers!
The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, mixing small-town charm with Halloween excitement. Marching bands, creative floats, and costumed families fill the streets, while local businesses join the celebration. It feels less like a spectacle and more like a community gathering. This makes it a great choice for those who want a lively and family-friendly Halloween.
Salem Haunted Happenings Grand Parade – Salem, MA
- Nearest Airport: BOS
- Date: Thursday, October 2, 2025.
- Route Details: Marches from Prime Group Shetland Park through Derby, Central, Front, Washington, Essex Street Mall and ends at Salem Common.
- Famous For: Themed floats, music, and vibrant community spirit inspired by the city’s Witch-Trial legacy.
The historic Witch City of Salem is infamous for the Witch Trials between 1692 and 1693. In Salem, Halloween isn’t a one-day holiday on October 31st. It’s a month-long celebration of ghouls, witchcraft, vampires and spooky stories! It all kicks off with the Haunted Happenings Grand Parade in early October.
At the Grand Parade, expect family friendly pageantry, music, and enthusiasm from thousands of attendees.
Grand Day Parade – Anoka, MN
- Nearest Airport: MSP
- Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025.
- Route Details: Begins at State Street & W Main Street, follows Main Street to 5th Avenue, ends at South Street/Military Road.
- Famous For: Community-led celebrations, youth participation, vibrant floats, drawing tens of thousands of spectators.
Anoka, Minnesota is the Halloween Capital of the World. Halloween is serious in Anoka, where spooky art and décor is up almost all year round.
Anoka Grand Day Halloween Parade puts the youth at the forefront of the celebrations. This honors the history of young Scottish and Irish immigrants, who brought the tradition of trick-or-treat across the Atlantic.
The Grand Day Parade is not only unique for its history but also for its enthusiastic embrace of Halloween traditions. It brings to life a charming and spirited essence of the holiday, making it a one-of-a-kind event.
West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval – West Hollywood, CA
- Nearest Airport: LAX
- Date: Friday, October 31, 2025.
- Route Details: Runs along Santa Monica Boulevard, between N. Doheny Drive and N. La Cienega Boulevard.
- Famous For: Extravagant costumes, live DJs, food trucks, and expressive revelry. Rooted in West Hollywood’s diversity and LGBTQ+ culture.
West Hollywood’s Halloween Carnaval is rooted in the diversity of the community, with an array of exhibitionists, performers, and thousands of people in attendance. An incomparable celebration, this spooky street festival is known as one of the most unique Halloween attractions in the world.
The atmosphere is electric. The streets fill with music, dazzling lights, and nonstop energy. Creative costumes range from funny and outrageous to glamorous and spine-chilling. Live DJs keep the crowd dancing; food vendors fuel the night with tasty treats. The sense of freedom and joy makes it feel like one giant, inclusive party.
Halloween in Manayunk – Philadelphia, PA
- Nearest Airport: PHL
- Date: TBA
- Route Details: TBA
- Famous For: A family- and pet-friendly celebration, including a dog costume parade and Main Street trick-or-treating.
The Halloween in Manayunk celebrations boast a series of Halloween events on Fridays and Saturdays throughout October. The MNYK Trick – or – Treating day on the final Saturday of the month features the family friendly Pretzel Park Farmers Market Costume Parade.
What’s more, one of the special highlights of the event is the dog parade, where dogs and owners dress up in costumes.
Halloween in Manayunk sets itself apart with its focus on the arts, animal-friendly activities and strong community. Definitely an event to attend for those travelling with dogs!
Haunted Halsted Halloween Night Parade – Chicago, IL
- Nearest Airport: MDW
- Date: October 31, 2025.
- Route Details: Begins at 6:30 PM at Halsted & Belmont, travels north to Halsted & Cornelia.
- Famous For: Extravagant costumes, drag flair, fire performers, marching bands, and vibrant LGBTQ+ community pride.
Chicago’s Haunted Halsted Halloween Night Parade takes place in the thriving LGBTQ+ neighbourhood of Boystown. The parade shows the inclusive spirit of the community, celebrating people of all backgrounds. Following the parade is a costume competition at Halsted and Brompton, with cash prizes up for grabs.
The spooky celebrations continue into the night, with parties in the area’s bars and restaurants. If you’re lurking in Chicago at Halloween, the Halsted Halloween Night Parade is not to be missed!
Deep Eddy Vodka Fantasy Fest Parade – Key West, FL
- Nearest Airport: EYW
- Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025.
- Route Details: Marches down Duval Street from the Gulf of Mexico end to the Atlantic Ocean end.
- Famous For: Imaginative floats, bike brigades, kinetic sculptures, and thousands of revelers.
Fantasy Fest is a 10-day long celebration of the spooky season with dozens of family-friendly as well as adult-oriented events and spectacles. Celebrations peak on the final weekend of October.
The highlight of Fantasy Fest, the Deep Eddy Vodka Fantasy Fest Parade sees around 70,000 partygoers roll down Duval Street. It’s well known for imaginative floats, marching bands and spectacular costumes.
The festival is one of the most vibrant and extravagant Halloween events in the United States. For an unforgettable night, The Fantasy Fest Parade is where you want to be!
Krewe of BOO! Halloween Parade– New Orleans, LA
- Nearest Airport: MSY
- Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025.
- Route Details: Starts near Elysian Fields, carries on through Royal Street, Canal Street, and ends in the Warehouse District.
- Famous For: Mardi Gras-style Halloween parade, giant puppets, brass bands, dance troupes.
Blending Halloween festivities and the rich culture of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras, The Krewe of BOO presents the ultimate spooky weekend with events taking place throughout.
The annual Krewe of BOO! Halloween Parade takes place in the historic French Quarter and goes through to the Warehouse District. The parade is child-friendly, so the whole family can enjoy the ghoulish and impressive display of floats, costumes and music.
The brilliant mix of All Hallows Eve lore and New Orleans culture makes Krewe of BOO! A beloved tradition.
Portsmouth Halloween Parade – Portsmouth, NH
- Nearest Airport: PSM
- Date: Saturday, October 31, 2025.
- Route Details: Begins at Pierce Island, proceeds down Daniel Street into Market Square, and ends at Prescott Park.
- Famous For: Handmade costumes, lively music, and a strict anti-commercial ethos.
Portsmouth Halloween Parade has a distinct approach to Halloween. It’s a community driven and anti-commercial event that rejects corporate sponsorship and motor vehicles are banned.
This grassroots Halloween parade is all about community and self-expression. With lively music and a focus on keeping things non-commercial, it’s an impressive and unique event. People are encouraged to make their own costumes, so creativity and personal flair really shine.
Which Halloween Parade Lures You In?
Whether you enjoy simple, traditional Halloween fun or prefer something bold and grand, there is always an event to match your taste.
If you’re looking to travel, be sure to secure your airport parking for a smooth and stress-free journey through AirportParkingReservations.com.
For more Halloween adventures, check out 13 Most Haunted Hotels in America.
FAQs: Halloween Parades in the US
1. What is the biggest Halloween parade in the US?
The Village Halloween Parade in New York City is the largest, drawing tens of thousands of participants and over a million spectators each year.
2. Are Halloween parades family-friendly?
Yes. Many parades, like Tarrytown’s Village Parade or Salem’s Haunted Happenings, are designed for families and kids. Others like West Hollywood’s Carnaval cater more to adults.
3. Do I need a ticket to attend a Halloween parade?
Most Halloween parades are free and open to the public. However, some cities host VIP viewing areas or after-parties that require tickets.
4. Can I march in a Halloween parade?
In many parades, anyone in costume can join the procession. Others may need advance registration.
5. Which Halloween parade is best for costumes?
For creativity and bold designs, West Hollywood’s Halloween Carnaval and Key West’s Fantasy Fest Parade stand out: they’re showcases for extravagant and boundary-pushing costumes.
6. When do most Halloween parades take place?
Most parades happen in late October, often on the weekend before Halloween or on October 31 itself.
7. How can I get to these Halloween parades easily?
Each parade is near a major airport, making it simple to fly in for the event. Securing airport parking in advance saves you time and money when starting your trip.
8. What makes each Halloween parade unique?
From literary themes in Tarrytown to Mardi Gras-style floats in New Orleans, each parade has its own local twist. No two celebrations feel the same.
