NYC Halloween Parade 2015: Route Map, Viewing Spots And TV Info For New York’s Village Parade

On Saturday, Oct. 31, millions of people across the country will dress up in costumes for parties and trick or treating in celebration of Halloween, but no Halloween celebration can rival the New York City Village Halloween Parade. The annual parade, which is expected to bring up to 50,000 people together on the holiday, will celebrate its 42nd anniversary in 2015.

The parade will begin at 7 p.m. EDT on Saturday, taking place along Sixth Avenue between Spring Street and 16th Street. Anyone wearing a costume is invited to participate and can gather before the parade on Sixth Avenue at Canal Street. The parade can also be watched on television at 7:30 p.m. EDT (details below).

This year the theme of the parade will be “Shine a Light!” in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King's iconic quote -- “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” The festivities will include hundreds of puppets, dozens of bands performing live music, dancers, and, of course, tens of thousands of costumed New Yorkers in what the parade’s website calls, “the nation’s most wildly creative public participatory event in the greatest city in the world.”

For those hoping to catch the Halloween parade this year, whether in person or on TV, below is all the information that you need to know:

Date and time: The parade will take place on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2014, at 7 p.m. EDT until about 10:30 p.m. EDT.

Route map and meeting spot: People will gather on Sixth Avenue South at Canal Street between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. EDT. From the east that starting point is accessible via Sullivan, East Broome and Canal Streets. From the west the starting point is only accessible via Canal Street. The map of the parade starting point can be seen below, as per the parade’s website. You must be in costume in order to participate.

Weather: The weather forecast for Saturday is mostly sunny with moderate temperatures of between 51 and 57 degrees during the parade, according to Weather.com. There will be light winds, but almost no chance of showers, unlike last year.

Viewing spots and tips: Simply getting a costume and taking part in the parade is the best way to actually see the action, as the streets and sidewalks along the parade route can become crowded. Those just hoping to watch can find places on Sixth Avenue north of Spring Street to 16th Street, but note that streets west of Sixth Avenue will be closed by police, so it is recommended to arrive at least an hour early to secure a good spot. Avoid streets between Bleecker Street and 14th Street, as they are typically the most crowded.

The parade route can be seen below via the offical website:

Television Info: Hoping to watch the parade from the comfort of your home? The NYC Halloween Parade will be televised live on NY1 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. EDT. Check your local listings for channels. A live stream of NY1's coverage will be available on the TWC News app.

Watch video from the 2014 Village Halloween parade below: