HALLOWEEN PARADE chronicles the making of the parade over the course of one eventful year, from its earliest planning on the morning after the last parade to the glorious event itself. We go behind the scenes of what might appear to be a spontaneous celebration to discover the massive organizational feat of pulling off an annual event that draws over 100,000 participants, two million spectators on the streets, and tens of millions of viewers at home and abroad.  

We are present as artists and volunteers create massive puppets, musicians and dance troupes perfect their performances, and parade producers juggle endless logistical challenges.  Our cameras capture the magic and excitement of the parade itself, immersing audiences in the heart of the sometimes spooky, often whimsical, and always entertaining action.  

The unlikely command center for the parade is located far from the buzz of Greenwich Village, at Rokeby, a grand but genteelly faded estate on the Hudson River, two hours north of Manhattan. Built for the ruling elite in the early 1800s, Rokeby is now home to a vibrant artistic community including the parade’s longtime creative director, Jeanne Fleming, a charismatic octogenarian with purple hair who has lived at Rokeby since the 1970s. 

We frame Jeanne and her team’s present-day story with a lively look at the parade’s history with never-before-seen archival footage, photos, and gothic, Halloween-spirited animation. Interweaving compelling human narratives and stunning visuals, the story of the parade parallels the epic changes in the Village, and in New York City, over the past half century. Through a compelling, character-driven narrative, behind-the-scenes cinema verité footage, and sumptuous parade imagery, HALLOWEEN PARADE will be an unforgettable look into the power of the arts to build joy, mystery, and community.

HALLOWEEN PARADE is directed and produced by Peter Miller (MARCELLA, AKA DOC POMUS, SACCO AND VANZETTI) and Renée Silverman (REFUGEE KIDS, SOSÚA: MAKE A BETTER WORLD), award-winning documentary filmmakers and lifelong Halloween enthusiasts. Executive Producer Seymour Licht is the author of Halloween Underground, an acclaimed photography book featuring Halloween celebrants on the New York City subway. Executive producer Lisa Kentgen is a writer and psychologist who has authored two books, An Intentional Life and The Practice of Belonging, and produced the documentary FLINT. We are honored to have been welcomed by the Halloween Parade and Rokeby communities to document their lives and work.