Jackson Heights Halloween: Costumes and Brass on 37th Avenue
Catch the neighborhood energy along 37th Avenue as marching bands and creative costumes take over the Jackson Heights corridor.
🎃 Queens's Annual Halloween March
🥁 Brass Bands and Community Gathering
Along 37th Avenue, Halloween brings a distinct neighborhood crowd to Jackson Heights. Local marching bands bring brass and percussion onto the open street, joined by families, neighbors, and long-time residents in creative costumes. The procession routes west along 37th Avenue from 89th Street toward 76th Street near P.S. 69, with sidewalk crowds gathered along stoops and shopfronts as music echoes down the corridor. Published schedules for 2026 list varying hours ranging from early afternoon to 5:00 PM, so check the Jackson Heights Beautification Group before heading out to confirm the official step-off time.
🎭 Neighborhood Costumes and Street Energy
The avenue becomes an open showcase of inventive neighborhood costumes, from playful cardboard designs to elaborate group concepts. Past processions have featured memorable spontaneous moments, including neighborhood dancers performing Michael Jackson's Thriller right on the asphalt. Near P.S. 69, community volunteers have traditionally coordinated treat bags for costumed marchers as supplies allow, supported by local Queens merchants.
👟 Watching, Marching, and Local Transit
You can experience the afternoon either as a marcher or a sidewalk onlooker. Historically, costumed participants gather along 89th Street, though formal lineup procedures remain managed by JHBG. For spectators, sidewalks along 37th Avenue and near P.S. 69 provide open vantage points to watch the bands and costumes move past. Take the 7 train to 90th St–Elmhurst Ave for the eastern end of the avenue, or 74th St–Broadway to catch the western stretch and explore the area's bakeries and tea shops afterward. Street parking is restricted along the corridor on event day, making transit the practical choice.
