Greenpoint's children's Halloween parade steps off for the 23rd time on Saturday, Oct. 31, marching down Manhattan Avenue from St. John's Lutheran Church on Milton Street. The parade is free and needs no ticket, and kids can join it anywhere along the route. Town Square, the North Brooklyn nonprofit that has organized it since its early years, is also throwing a ticketed indoor party at the church before and after.

The parade

Families gather in front of St. John's Lutheran Church at 155 Milton Street, near Manhattan Avenue. The parade steps off at about 12:15 p.m., turns right onto Manhattan Avenue and marches south to Driggs Avenue, then turns around and comes back up the avenue to the church. Costumes are encouraged but not required. The parade goes ahead rain or shine.

The partners listed for this year include Brooklyn Cub Scouts Pack 7, Scouts BSA Boys Troop 26 and Girls Troop 1, the church itself, the NYPD Jazz Band and the children's entertainer Anna Banana.

The Spooktacular party

Inside the church, Town Square runs a Halloween party for children up to 12 in three timed sessions, at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Each session lasts 50 minutes, and guests head out 10 minutes before the next one begins. Each session has arts and crafts, games, contests, live music, a movie and treats.

Tickets are sold through the Zeffy platform, linked from Town Square's site, and the session is chosen at purchase:

  • Children and infants: $25 through Friday, Oct. 30, then $30.
  • Parent ticket, which admits two parents from one family: $10 through Oct. 30, then $15.
  • Each additional adult: $25.

Every child must come with a responsible adult. Refunds are available until 15 days before the event, which has already passed.

Where the money goes

Town Square has worked in Brooklyn since 2004 and runs family programs and green programs in Greenpoint and Williamsburg. Proceeds from the party go to Town Square BK Scouts, through which it sponsors local Greenpoint and Williamsburg scout units.

How to go

The parade gathers at St. John's Lutheran Church, 155 Milton Street, for a step-off around 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. The G train stops at Greenpoint Avenue, a few blocks north of the church, and the B43 and B62 buses run nearby. Questions go to Town Square at 347-559-1410 or hello@townsquarebk.org.

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