Theater for the New City has thrown a Halloween costume ball every year since 1974, and this Saturday is the 50th. On October 31 the East Village theater at 155 First Avenue runs a free outdoor festival for kids on East 10th Street in the afternoon, then opens its four theaters for a night of cabaret, a 17-piece swing band and a midnight costume parade, for $20.

The theater counts 2020, when the ball went virtual, as a year that did not count, which is how a tradition that began in 1974 reaches its 50th edition in 2026. The ball was held fully outdoors in 2021 and moved back inside in 2022.

Outdoors, free, 3 to 7 p.m.

East 10th Street between First and Second Avenues closes to cars for the afternoon, as part of the city's Trick-or-Streets program. If it rains, the festival moves into a large tent. The lineup includes variety acts by Carol Tandava, Arley Trice, George Belleci, Joe Bendik and the band Star '69, and a children's costume contest judged by Crystal Field, T. Scott Lilly and Terry Lee King, with prizes. At 7 p.m. the outdoor portion ends with The Red and Black Masque, a torchlit medieval ritual piece in which the audience takes part.

Indoors, $20, 7 p.m. to midnight

The theater asks guests to come in costume or formal wear. Inside, the night spreads across the building's four theaters:

  • Ten-minute cabaret acts, including Austin Pendleton, John Grimaldi and Alessandra Belloni.
  • Art Lillard's Heavenly Big Band, a 17-piece swing orchestra, from 8 to 10 p.m.
  • Aerial dance by Caytha Jentis from 10 to 10:30 p.m.
  • Mr. Pablo's Latin Dance Band from 10:30 p.m. to midnight.
  • A scream contest at 10:24 p.m.
  • Vaudeville in the basement space the theater calls the Womb Room.
  • Lobby acts including the women's taiko group Cobu, tap by The Mad Tappers and free fortune-teller readings.

From 8 p.m., a pop-up cafe called the Witches' Cauldron serves a full dinner for $5, with dishes donated by East Village restaurants.

At midnight, Crystal Field hosts the costume parade and judging. Winners get a one-year pass to Theater for the New City and a bottle of Moet.

Where the Village parade began

The ball shares its roots with the Village Halloween Parade. The Village Halloween Parade began in 1974 as a Theater for the New City production with West Village block associations, and the theater won an Obie Award for it in 1975. Artists who have been part of the ball over the years include Penny Arcade, Basil Twist, Charles Busch and Moises Kaufman.

How to go

Theater for the New City is at 155 First Avenue, between 9th and 10th Streets. The L stops at First Avenue and 14th Street, and the 6 stops at Astor Place. Reservations are optional; the box office is at (212) 254-1109.

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