Every year on October 31, the Village Halloween Parade draws over 2 million people to Sixth Avenue, featuring creative costumes, larger-than-life puppets, and a flash mob of the iconic "Thriller" dance.
The event originated as a space for queer and drag communities to express themselves freely, starting as a small door-to-door walk around Ralph Lee's neighborhood in 1973.
Lee, a mask and puppet designer, formalized the event the following year for the Theater for the New City, which has long supported the LGBTQ+ community.
The parade is a march of identity exploration and celebration, where drag performers and queer Victorian-era couples can express themselves alongside Elton John lookalikes.
Today, the parade is a popular event, but its roots remain a celebration of self-expression and identity.
Author's summary: The Village Halloween Parade is a celebration of identity and self-expression.