Thousands of people are expected to turn out for the 44th annual Dominican Day Parade in Manhattan this weekend — and city officials say they’re prepared to keep revelers safe.
The event steps off at Sixth Avenue and West 36th Street at 11 a.m. on Sunday, with participants set to march north to West 55th Street.
“As we all know, the Dominican Day Parade is one of the largest parades in our city, and it is one of the most joyful days of the year,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at a news briefing. “There is nothing quite like the sound of bachata, the aroma of sancocho as it fills our city streets, the joy of New Yorkers coming together to celebrate a heritage that is so integral to our city’s history.”
From street closures to security, here’s what to know before you arrive.
Which streets will be closed?
Starting at 10 a.m., Sixth Avenue between 34th and 42nd streets will close to all vehicular traffic, including crosstown traffic, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at the briefing.
At 10:30 a.m., the closure will extend along the avenue from 42nd Street to 55th Street, remaining in effect until the parade wraps up, she said.
The NYPD said to expect additional street closures in the area at the agency’s discretion, including at:
Sixth Avenue between 37th and 38th streets
36th Street between Broadway and Fifth Avenue
38th and 37th streets between Fifth and Seventh avenues
Sixth Avenue between 36th and 55th streets
55th Street between Fifth and Seventh avenues
Once the parade kicks off, pedestrians will only be able to cross Sixth Avenue at 39th Street, 42nd Street, 48th Street and 51st Street, Tisch noted.
“Street closures will make it difficult to drive or park anywhere near the parade route,” she said. “So if you’re planning to attend, we strongly urge you to take public transportation.”
What will security be like?
NYPD officers will be stationed along the entirety of the parade route — and will also be patrolling the surrounding area, Mamdani said.
“While there are no known specific or credible threats against the parade at this time, we will continue to coordinate closely across government, as well as with our state and federal partners, to ensure New Yorkers can celebrate and can be safe while doing so,” he said.
Tisch said traffic agents will be set up at intersections and crossings, with personnel from the NYPD’s Service Unit, Mounted Unit, K9 Unit and Counterterrorism Bureau out assisting officers.
New Yorkers can also expect to see helicopters and drones monitoring the route, she said.
Alcohol won’t be permitted along the stretch, Tisch noted.
“We take seriously our responsibility to protect every New Yorker who will attend this celebration, as we do with any other major event or public gathering,” the mayor said.
What sort of weather is on tap?
Sunday is on track to be sunny and dry, but the heat and humidity gripping the five boroughs is expected to stick around.
Mamdani urged New Yorkers to prepare for the high temperatures by staying hydrated and checking in with other paradegoers.
Attendees can get weather-related alerts by signing up for Notify NYC, he said.