It’s the beginning of August on the edge of a heatwave in our city and the last thing on anyones mind is Halloween. Well, thats anyone but us and Jeanne Fleming. It was a Monday night when we spent over an hour on the phone where her warm voice was familiar, like a long-lost friend. I can almost hear the hum of Greenwich Village in the background, the sounds of the city always alive and bustling. I’m eager to hear her thoughts about the Village Halloween Parade, a cultural institution she’s nurtured for decades.
Jeanne Fleming: “Hello? Jeanne here.”
NYE: “Hi Jeanne, it’s great to connect! How are you today?”
Jeanne Fleming: “I’m doing well, thanks. Just getting ready for another crazy Halloween season. You know how it goes around here!” She laughs softly, and I can almost picture her, smiling, the energy of the Village always buzzing around her.
NYE: “I can only imagine! The Village Halloween Parade is such a massive, beloved event now, but I’m curious—how did it all begin for you?”
Jeanne Fleming: “Well, it’s a bit of a long story, but it started in the early ’70s, actually, when Ralph Lee and a group of other artists began exploring ways to bring the spirit of Greenwich Village into the streets. The parade grew organically—there was no big plan or anything. People just started building their own floats, creating costumes, and showing up to be part of this incredible spectacle. It became a celebration of everything the Village stood for—creativity, rebellion, self-expression.” Jeanne explained how it all began with Ralph walking from his home to his local park (Washington Square Park) with puppets. No street closures, no hoopla, no agenda. Just a tradition that was important to this puppeteer.
NYE: “And how did you get involved with it?”
Jeanne Fleming: “I was drawn to it because of my love for carnival culture, for how those kinds of public celebrations can create a deep connection between people. I was a part of the parade’s evolution in the early years—Ralph was one of the driving forces behind its creation, but the spirit of the event was something we all built together. It was about creating something that wasn’t commercial, and wasn’t political. It was about being human, in all our messiness and beauty.” Jeanne explained how in the 1980’s Ralph no longer wanted to do it and that was her opportunity to step in and she fully embraced being the face of this New York and world institution. She also explained how a big driver of this decision was the people. She loves the people and being with the people. For context, she answers over 100 emails an hour! Every. Single. One. Jeanne also explained how the puppets were part of the people (we thought this was very cool)
There’s a pause on the line, and I can hear her taking a deep breath, as if reflecting on the parade’s broader significance.
Jeanne Fleming: “The beauty of the parade, and what I think has kept it going for so long, is that it’s never been about any one person’s vision. It’s a collective work of art, shaped by the community. In that sense, it’s deeply spiritual. It’s a vast ritual, much like ancient festivals, where people come together to mark time, to create something outside of the mundane, to step into something more expansive.”
NYE: “That’s such an interesting point—the idea of it being a ritual. And, in some ways, it’s become more significant post-9/11, right? The spirit of it changed after that tragedy.”
Jeanne Fleming: “Exactly. After 9/11, the parade took on a new weight. It became a place for collective healing, for grieving, but also for renewal. People were looking for a way to reclaim joy, to reconnect with one another in the face of such deep sorrow. And the parade offered a space for that. It wasn’t about forgetting, but about remembering—together.” Jeanne also added that it was the first parade after the tragic events. While the event started somber, it ended very differently and consistent with New Yorkers, the resiliency of our city shined through this magical event.
Jeanne’s voice shifts slightly, and I can sense she’s tapping into something deeply personal, as if the parade and the city are both inseparable from her own journey.
Jeanne Fleming: “The Village has always been a place where people come to reinvent themselves. That’s what makes the Halloween Parade such a perfect fit for this neighborhood. It’s a place where you can be whoever you want to be, where self-expression is celebrated. There’s no judgment. There’s no ‘right’ way to participate.”
NYE: “It’s almost like it’s a living metaphor for the counterculture of Greenwich Village itself, don’t you think?”
Jeanne Fleming: “Definitely. The parade is deeply connected to that countercultural spirit. It’s not about conforming. It’s about breaking free from expectations and letting your imagination run wild. It’s about living outside the box, creating new rituals that speak to something timeless—this collective yearning to be more than we are, and yet to be exactly who we are, without apology.”
There’s a soft background noise as if she’s shifting in her seat, and I know I’m hearing the hum of a city that never stops. I ask Jeanne about something I’ve been curious about for a while.
NYE: “Jeanne, I know you’re heading to Burning Man next year. How does that fit into your work with the Village Halloween Parade?”
Jeanne Fleming: “Ah, yes. I’m really looking forward to it. Burning Man, in a lot of ways, feels like an extension of the spirit we’ve cultivated with the parade. It’s a place where people are free to explore new versions of themselves, to step outside the norms of everyday life and live out a new reality, even if just for a few days. It’s a deeply spiritual experience, just like the parade is. It’s not about politics—it’s about the collective imagination, the shared creation of something that exists outside of time and space.”
NYE: “It sounds like a natural next step for you, especially since both events are so centered around creativity and ritual. What is it about these kinds of experiences that draws you in?”
Jeanne Fleming: “I think it’s the connection—the deep, unspoken bond that forms when people come together with the intention of creating something beautiful, something meaningful. The Village Halloween Parade, Burning Man—these are not just events. They’re places where the spirit of the community can truly be felt. There’s a certain magic in that.”
NYE: “And I imagine it’s that spirit of togetherness, of shared creation, that makes the parade so enduring, isn’t it?”
Jeanne Fleming: “Yes. It’s a living, breathing thing that reflects the constant changes of the people who make it up. We’ve been doing this for so long now, and yet each year feels new. The faces may change, but the energy remains the same. It’s a space where we can all imagine a better world, one where difference is celebrated, not feared. A place where all of us are free to be who we are.”
We both fall quiet for a moment, the words hanging in the air like the warm glow of a lantern. Jeanne continues, her voice softer now. Me, taking in the fact that Jeanne at 80 is a young spirit and soul and never stops reinventing herself through the pursuit of creativity and people. I’m amazed in silence.
Jeanne Fleming: “That’s what I love about the parade—it’s not just about what we wear or how we express ourselves. It’s about the feeling that we create together, the ritual of it all. It’s an embodiment of the dream we all share: a world where we’re free to be ourselves, no matter what.”
At this point, Jeanne tells me about the parade’s theme this year – ‘Imagine’
NYE: “It sounds like the parade is a living embodiment of John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’—imagine all the people, living life in peace.”
Jeanne Fleming: “Exactly. That’s it. Imagine all the people, in one place, creating something together that transcends who we are as individuals. It’s about that collective dream of peace, of unity, of community.”
As the conversation winds down, I feel a deep sense of gratitude. Jeanne’s words have brought to life something magical—an event, a neighborhood, a community that’s more than just a celebration. It’s a space for spirit, for connection, and for imagination. The parade, much like the people of Greenwich Village, will continue to evolve, but it will always carry the heart of that shared dream—imagine all the people, coming together to create something beautiful, no matter where they come from.
While I wanted to continue the conversation for days and dive into subjects that we touched on including how the initial staff and volunteers included Sailors docked on South Street Seaport, how the parade was only cancelled twice for Sandy and Covid, how there has never been any issues at the parade, how Jeanne hugs the police after the parade and is always visible with her hot pink leather jacket, I knew that it had to stop. It was past 10pm on a Monday evening and I had to respect Jeanne’s time. It was a conversation that I’ll never forget. Jeanne represents the old New York – the one so many of us romanticize about but what Jeanne taught me during our conversation is that while its not the same, neither are we! So this impressive woman at 80 years old continues to reinvent herself, this institution that blesses our city all while keeping the roots and as she says, a ‘throwback to old New York’. And for that, I take comfort in the leader of this parade and can’t wait for this year’s edition.
For more information, visit https://halloween-nyc.com/