(Reuters) - Protesters hope to shut down Wall Street on Thursday -- home to the New York Stock Exchange -- by holding a street carnival to mark the two-month anniversary of their campaign against economic inequality.

Protest organizers acknowledged that the "day of action" they have planned could be the group's most provocative most yet, and could lead to mass arrests and further strain relations with city authorities.

"I think we're certainly going into this with our eyes wide open, but (the march is) to provoke ideas and discussion, not to provoke any violent reactions," said Occupy Wall Street spokesman Ed Needham.

"I think it is very difficult to do a day of action and not expect some sort of reaction from the (authorities)," he said.

The protesters plan to march to Wall Street from their camp headquarters in a park two blocks away and then spread out across the city's subway system to tell the stories of disenfranchised Americans. They will reconvene later on Thursday for a march across the Brooklyn Bridge.

[I wonder if they're looking to get disbanded for the winter, and make a big noise in the process.]