Bagpipes, marching bands and a sea of green will take over Fifth Avenue once again as New York City hosts the 265th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Tuesday, March 17, one of the city’s oldest and most beloved traditions.
The massive celebration of Irish-American heritage kicks off at 11 am and is expected to run until around 4:30 pm, drawing nearly 2 million spectators and roughly 150,000 marchers to Midtown and the Upper East Side.
The parade begins at 44th Street and Fifth Avenue, heading north along Fifth Avenue before finishing near 79th Street, by the Irish Historical Society. Spectators can line up anywhere along the route between those two points, though organizers recommend arriving early for a prime viewing spot.
The parade will feature marching bands, bagpipers, Irish dancers, cultural organizations, uniformed services and political leaders, all celebrating Irish heritage in a procession that has been part of New York life since 1762—14 years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Unlike many modern parades, New York’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration still keeps things refreshingly old-school. It remains a marchers-only parade, meaning there are no floats or elaborate stage setups, just thousands of participants marching up Fifth Avenue to the sound of pipes and drums. Leading the parade this year is Grand Marshal Robert J. McCann, a finance executive and board chair of the Irish Arts Center who holds dual U.S. and Irish citizenship.
If you’d rather watch from the couch than brave the crowds, the parade will also be broadcast live on NBC 4 New York beginning at 11 am and streamed online through several platforms, including the official parade website.
As for getting around the city, plan ahead: numerous streets in Midtown and the Upper East Side will close at the NYPD’s discretion. The parade route itself will shut down Fifth Avenue between 43rd and 79th Streets, while additional closures will affect surrounding cross streets and parts of Madison Avenue from roughly 42nd Street to 84th Street.
One more thing to keep in mind before you head out: temperatures are expected to hover around 40 degrees, with a mix of sun and clouds, so if you’re planning to spend hours cheering along Fifth Avenue, bring a warm coat along with your green scarf.
After all, a little chilly weather has never stopped New Yorkers from celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
Full list of street closures for the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Formation area:
Vanderbilt Avenue between 43rd Street and 46th Street
44th Street between Vanderbilt Avenue and Sixth Avenue
45th Street between Vanderbilt Avenue and Sixth Avenue
46th Street between Vanderbilt Avenue and Sixth Avenue
47th Street between Park Avenue and Sixth Avenue
48th Street between Park Avenue and Sixth Avenue
Parade route:
Fifth Avenue between 79th Street and 43rd Street
Dispersal area:
Fifth Avenue between 84th Street and 79th Street
79th Street between Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue
80th Street between Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue
81st Street between Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue
82nd Street between Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue
Additional closures:
43rd Street between Vanderbilt Avenue and Sixth Avenue
49th Street between Madison Avenue and Rockefeller Plaza
50th Street between Madison Avenue and Rockefeller Plaza
51st Street between Madison Avenue and Sixth Avenue
54th Street between Madison Avenue and Sixth Avenue
57th Street between Madison Avenue and Sixth Avenue
59th Street between Madison Avenue and Sixth Avenue
62nd Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue
63rd Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue
64th Street between Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue
65th Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue
70th Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue
71st Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue
72nd Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue
78th Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue
84th Street between Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue
Madison Avenue between 42nd Street and 84th Street