New Yorkers launched into the Halloween spirit as the streets of the Big Apple were taken over by the 50th anniversary of the annual spook-tacular parade.
Celebrities including Bradley Cooper and model Irina Shayk joined the growing crowd, with the actor delighting fans as he lived up to his Guardians of the Galaxy role in a Rocket Raccoon costume.
An array of haunting Halloween outfits and hilarious parodies descended on Manhattan’s West Village on Tuesday night to mark the end of this year’s spooky festivities.
Also on show was a life-like resurrection of 60s starlet Marilyn Monroe, chilling Day of the Dead masks, and adorable children dressed up as their favorite characters.
The festivities have come at a time of heightened tensions in the city, where officials say they are on heightened alert after protestors have locked horns on the streets amid the conflict in the Middle East.
New York City’s annual parade has seen the streets of the Big Apple burst into life
Actor Bradley Cooper and model Irina Shayk are seen escorting their daughter Lea for a night of trick-or-treating on Halloween
Huge crowds took to the streets of Manhattan to celebrate the spooky holiday, including a resurrection of 60’s starlet Marilyn Monroe
Day Of The Dead inspired outfits were among the vibrant costumes on show
To mark the official end of this year’s ‘Halloweekend’, revelers stretched their partying out until Tuesday as they took part in the parade
A man dressed as former US President Donald Trump behind bars holding an “Inmate Donald” sign walks in the parade
To mark half a century of ghoulish event, this year’s theme is ‘upside down/ inside out’, to celebrate a return to freedom after years of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Travelling the regular route through Greenwich Village and up Sixth Avenue, the theme will reflect the freedom of the end of lockdowns and enjoying being back outside.
‘This year’s parade not only commemorates its own 50-year history but also pays tribute to those lost to various events like 9/11, AIDS, and COVID, as well as those who have been part of the parade throughout the years,’ said longtime director of the parade Jeanne Fleming.
A group of Vampire-inspired dancers entertain a crowd on the streets of Manhattan
A party-goer cradles a candle as they form part of the many musical and dance aspects of the frstivities
Model Emily Ratajkowski dressed up in red Devil attire for Trick or Treating with her son Sly before the parade got underway
A marching band performs during the parade on Tuesday evening
A woman dressed as a ghoulish nun waits for the parade along Sixth Avenue
Officials have warned that they are on heightened alert this year, with the conflict in the Middle East sparking several hostile protests in recent weeks before the parade
Some light-hearted costumes and adorable parodies were also seen in the spooky parade
Huge towering skeletons form part of the raucous festivities
A parade-attendee parodies summer hit ‘Barbie’ with a Ken costume
Terrifying zombie-clowns caught a front-seat view of the parade
The NYPD said on Tuesday they were on a ‘heightened’ security footing as Halloween revelers party at a time of tension over the Israel-Palestinian conflict, but they added that no specific, credible threats had been made.
In other large U.S. cities, where police departments have increased vigilance in recent weeks due to concern about terrorism or violent protests over the conflict in Gaza, officials reported few worries that Halloween would create additional threats.
Tens of thousands are expected to flock to Manhattan for the parade, with officials acknowledging the array of colors and costumes could make their job harder.
‘We’ll be out there in a heightened posture,’ New York City Police Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey told TV station Fox 5 on Monday.
‘Right now we’re just in a different time, with the war in Israel,’ he added, before noting that ‘at this time there are no specific, credible threats.’
Officials have cautioned revelers to remain vigilant, as Maddrey concluded: ‘We do see the tension, and there is a lot of hostility out there.’
Manhattan’s West Village became the center of the spooky festivities
Spooky partiers bare their fangs for a picture while the parade marches along the Big Apple
This year’s theme is ‘upside down/ inside out’ to celebrate the end of the pandemic and a return to freedom
In true New York fashion, one man decided to pay homage to the Empire State Building
While police say they are at a heightened awareness of threats this year, revelers have been assured that there are no credible threats to the parade
Two revelers in daring outfits prepare to take part in the parade earlier in the day
Singer Joe Jonas was also spotted in the Big Apple with children Willa and Delphine in a princess carriage stroller earlier in the day
Earlier in the day, singer Joe Jonas was spotted celebrating Halloween by taking his children trick-or-treating.
He took his kids Willa, 3, and Delphine, 15-months, out on a fairytale carriage stroller, replicating a princess-inspired trip the trio also took the day before.
Also deciding the spooky holiday was the perfect time for a family jaunt was model Emily Ratajkowski.
The model, 32, donned a red Devil outfit as she stepped out with son Sly a few hours before the parade got underway.
For the traditional grand-marshal role, music artist Laurie Anderson took up this year’s position – while the legendary Lou Reed was named as posthumous grand marshal.
Dozens of marching bands, musical acts and dance groups habitually form the loud and boisterous parade, as New Orleans-based band ‘The Young Fellaz Brass Band selected to lead the line this year.