New York City’s annual Columbus Day Parade has been canceled due to a nor’easter that brought high winds and heavy rain into the region Sunday and is lingered through Monday.

“Due to the Governor’s declaration of a State of Emergency this evening in response to the dangerous weather conditions brought on by the Nor’easter, including high winds, heavy rain and flooding in surrounding areas, we must cancel the 81st Annual Columbus Day Parade for the safety of all participants and viewers,” a representative for the Columbus Citizens Foundation said in a statement. “While we cannot reschedule this year’s parade, we look forward to seeing everyone at our 82nd annual parade in 2026.”

Nearly a million people typically line Fifth Avenue for the annual tradition, featuring more than 35,000 marchers, including school bands and cultural groups. 

“We gave thought to all the spectators, our people marching, and all of our members and their safety. So in thinking about all the travel that would be required for people coming in from around the Tri-State Area, it would be really a burden and possibly dangerous,” Columbus Citizens Foundation President Christopher Loiacono said Monday. “So we thought it was in the best interest of everyone to cancel the parade.”  

Grand marshal Joe Moglia called it disappointing but said there’s not much you can do about bad weather. 

“I would rather see everybody safe and not have to worry about it than have that concern,” he said. 

While the parade is canceled, a special Mass celebrating Italian-American heritage was still held at 9 a.m. inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Religious leaders reflected on the first Italians emigrating to America vowing to keep the Catholic faith and pursue religious freedom. 

“You think about the contributions Italian culture has made to the city and to our country, from a cultural perspective,” said Moglia. “Most came here with no money, dead broke, can’t speak the language… They were literately able to live the American dream.”

Several other events had to be canceled over the holiday weekend, including the city’s Diwali celebration in Times Square, the New York Road Runners’ Staten Island Half Marathon and Morris County’s Columbus Day Parade. 

Cancelation doesn’t stop all the festivities, however

People who were expecting to dance up Fifth Avenue brought the party to Osteria Italiana in Garfield. 

“We’re still having a good time. We enjoyed the people that came from Italy. What are we supposed to do? We couldn’t do it now, but we’ll do it here as one big happy family,” Maria Scaduto said. 

Some musicians who spent months preparing – even shipping traditional Sicilian drums, whhich they put to good use. 

“We had an email to cancel the parade. So we stopped everything. So now, what I am going to do? I have all these people,” Nick Aiello said. “We’re all disappointed.” 

The only other cancelation in the parade’s history was during the pandemic, in 2020, when it was held virtually instead. It’s the first time weather has forced a cancelation after Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency due to the nor’easter bringing potentially dangerous wind and flooding. 

Is Columbus Day a federal holiday?

Yes. That means the U.S. Postal Service and most banks are closed. 

Under normal circumstances, federal workers have the day off with pay, but that may be impacted by the government shutdown. 

President Trump signed a proclamation Thursday reiterating the importance of the holiday in American history. Mr. Trump also said earlier this year that he would not recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day, something former President Joe Biden had done each year in office. 

What’s open and closed on Columbus Day?

New York City public schools are closed Monday. Alternate side parking rules and sanitation collection are both suspended. 

Here’s a look at some other points of interest:

New York Public Library: All locations closedBrooklyn Public Library: All locations closedNew York Botanical Garden: OpenBrooklyn Botanic Garden: ClosedNYC museums: American Museum of Natural History, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney are open for normal hours, among othersNYC landmarks: Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, One World Trade Observatory, Vessel at Hudson Yards, 9/11 Museum & Memorial and Intrepid Museum are open, as wellArea shopping: American Dream Mall and Woodbury Common outlets are both open, too