If you’ve ever been to New York City for the annual Halloween Parade, you can’t miss out on the LED Tower Music-to-Light show from the Empire State Building. Every year, Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (ESRT) partners with mass media entertainment company iHeartMedia to “treat” viewers to a spectacular performance with bright lights and popular music – no “tricks” involved here, just some really cool entertainment New York style.
This year’s show began on Saturday, October 31 at 6:45 PM and was simulcast on radio stations z100 and KTU 103.5. An encore performance was played at 10:00 PM on z100 just in case people missed the first show while they were out partying at the parade.
The Facts
New Yorker or not, the Empire State Building is a building that gets a lotta love. It’s one of the most recognizable icons in Manhattan and is a huge part of American culture. Spanning 102-stories, it’s the fifth tallest building in the U.S. It is famously lit year round in colors to commemorate various holidays and events including the 4th of July, Christmas, and of course, Halloween. Perhaps you’ll also remember when the building was lit in rainbow lights last July to celebrate the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage.
Even those who have never stepped foot within our concrete jungle will recognize the building as King Kong’s famous perch where the he swatted helicopters from the skies like flies. Or, when Will Ferrell visited New York City as an overgrown “Elf” named Buddy, he pushed all of the buttons inside the skyscraper’s elevator and remarked that the lights made the buttons look like a Christmas tree. It’s hard to believe but the building has been in over 250 movies since it was completed in 1931!
The Sounds
The LED tower lights were synchronized to the music played by iHeartMedia’s radio stations and included the following Halloween-themed songs:
- “Disturbia” by Rihanna
- “E.T.” by Katy Perry
- “The Addams Family” theme song
- “Ghostbusters” theme song
- “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell
The Sights
The light show was easily visible to those in the Midtown area, including the parade goers of Greenwich Village along the entire parade route. This year marked their 42nd annual celebration.
For more amazing light shows including those of past Halloween’s, be sure to check out the Empire State Building YouTube channel.
Here are some great locations to visit for a public viewing for next year’s show:
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Bryant Park
- The Highline
- Hoboken / Jersey City Waterfront
- Hudson River Esplanade
- Long Island City
- Madison Square Park
- Tribeca Park
- Union Square
- Williamsburg Waterfront
