What to Know About the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade will make its traditional march up Fifth Avenue on Saturday, the 263rd iteration of one of the world’s longest-running parades.
St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, so the parade will take place on March 16, the day before the holiday, “in order to observe the Sunday Sabbath,” organizers said.
Marchers will start heading up Fifth Avenue at 11 a.m., led by the parade’s grand marshal, Margaret C. Timoney, the chief executive of Heineken U.S.A.
Around 150,000 marchers and 2 million spectators are expected at the parade, according to its website.
“This parade that started in 1762 has survived a war of revolution, World War I, World War II, the Great Depression, and the pandemics of 1918 and 2020,” Hilary Beirne, a founding chairman of the parade’s foundation, told NBC.
Here’s what to know about this year’s festivities.
Where can I watch the parade?
The four-hour parade will be carried live on NBC 4 New York and can also be streamed on NBC New York’s website and on Roku, Samsung TV Plus, Xumo Play and the parade’s website.
Coverage will be anchored by Gus Rosendale, a co-anchor for NBC 4 New York’s “Weekend Today in NY,” and Sarah Wallace, an investigative reporter with NBC 4. Treasa Goodwin-Smyth of Ireland Calls Radio Show and Tommy Smyth, an ESPN commentator, will also take part in the broadcast.
What is the parade route?
The parade will proceed north on Fifth Avenue, starting at 44th Street and ending at 79th Street. Marchers will pause outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral, between 50th and 51st Streets, to be “reviewed” by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, the archbishop of New York.
Organizers recommend that spectators looking for the best view line up as early as possible. In the past, they have said the stretch of Fifth Avenue between 48th Street and 55th Street offers the best vantage points.
Who will be in the parade?
State and local officials, including Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams, will take part in the parade. They will be accompanied by the Police Department’s marching band and its Emerald Society, a group for those of Irish heritage.
Several local high school and college marching bands will also participate, including the Xaverian High School Pipe and Drum Corps from Brooklyn and the pipe band from Iona University in New Rochelle, N.Y., the alma mater of the parade’s grand marshal, Ms. Timoney.
Representatives from Ireland’s national airline, Aer Lingus, will also march alongside members of the Port Authority.
A full list of everyone marching can be found here.
