New York St. Patrick's Day Parade

St Patricks Day Parade NYC

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New York St. Patrick's Day Parade Summary

Event Overview: Since 1762, Americans have celebrated their Irish heritage in the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in NYC. Originally a purely Catholic holiday, St. Patrick's Day has come to stand as the premier Irish holiday: rivers, mustaches, and dreadlocks are dyed green and copious amounts of alcohol are consumed. In NYC, over two million people gather to watch and participate in the parade, which marches from 44th Street and Fifth Avenue to 86th Street, 1.5 miles away.

What to Expect: Noise and excitement. The St. Patrick's Day Parade is a raucous event that draws a young, often college-aged, crowd. Expect a lot of green.

  • Crowds: A typical St. Patrick's Parade NYC features 150,000 participants and draws a crowd of two million spectators. Expect big crowds everywhere with proportionate merrymaking.  This is not the best time to bring Grandma to NYC unless Gram can party with the best of them...
  • Bagpipes: It's St Patrick's Day NYC! Expect bagpipes. Lots of them. (Note that the Irish use the uilleann pipe, while the Scottish use the Scottish Great Highland Pipe; both instruments, however, are considered bagpipes.)
  • Revelry: As the oldest and largest St. Patrick's Day Parade, the St. Patrick's Parade NYC is also the most boisterous. Spectators take advantage of this, the definitive Irish holiday, to drink copious, sometimes excessive, amounts of alcohol. While police continue to crack down on public drinking, harsh words are still exchanged between heavy drinkers, and a few fights inevitably ensue.

Inside Knowledge: The first St. Patrick's Day Parade was held in 1762 by a band of homesick Irish expatriates serving in the British Army. Because their homeland had banned the wearing of green, a symbol of Irish pride, these expatriates decided to celebrate the freedom of expression they found in the British colonies with a parade. The parade is held every year on March 17 (unless March 17 is a Sunday, in which case the parade is held on March 16). It is the oldest civilian parade in the world. Led by the U.S. 69th Infantry Regiment, the St. Patrick's Parade NYC marches up the 1.5 miles of Fifth Avenue between 44th Street and 86th Street, typically ending by 5pm.

Event Hints:

  • Avoid the Crowds: To best enjoy the St. Patrick's Parade NYC, we recommend venturing north of 66th Street and Fifth Avenue. There you'll avoid the crowds that pack the sidewalks south of 59th Street.
  • Find a Good View: Want a better view of the St. Patrick's Parade NYC? Try the upper steps of the Museum of Modern Art, located on West 53rd Street, or the sidewalk on 86th Street, where the parade disbands. Stand on the west side of Fifth Avenue to enjoy the sun, as the east side of the street is often covered in shade.
  • Don't Break the Law: Drinking in public is strictly prohibited during the St Patrick's Day NYC Parade. Those found drinking in public will be ticketed and arrested, and police will confiscate all alcoholic beverages. 




NYCTourist Travel Info

User Average Review

Overall:
3.9
Event:
4.5
Location:
4.5
Staff:
3.5
View:
3

Based on 2 reviews

Rating Distribution

100.0% recommended it

New York St. Patrick's Day Parade Reviews

Sort Reviews By: | | |

Mackenzie Webber

Mar 31, 2011
at 8:54 am

Joined: March 2011

xxx.xxx.244.242

Overall:
3.5
Event:
4
Location:
4
View:
3
Staff:
3

Would recommend to a friend

Date Visited: 03/11

Was it crowded:

Seemingly Everyone is Irish at the New York St. Patrick's Day Parade

If you're searching for a memorable way to spend your St. Patrick's Day, you should check out the NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade.  As the largest St. Patty's Day parade in the country, you'll feel a bit cramped at times, and you, hopefully, won't have to use the restroom when you're at the front of the crowd.  This parade has been a long-standing tradition in New York City.  It seems that everyone in New York is Irish during this parade, which makes for a very fun day.

 

This review is provided by an NYCTourist staff member and is a composite of actual reviews. This may be a paid advertiser.

Carly Kale

Mar 30, 2011
at 1:06 pm

Joined: March 2011

xxx.xxx.244.242

Overall:
4.25
Event:
5
Location:
5
View:
3
Staff:
4

Would recommend to a friend

Date Visited: 03/11

Was it crowded:

A New York Tradition - New York St. Patrick's Day Parade

The St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City has been a tradition in Manhattan for 250 years, though, admittedly, it has likely changed a lot since its inception.  Though the temperatures have had a tendency to drop a bit low on St. Patty's Day, the enormous number of people squished together can help warm you up.  This parade is worth a visit at least once, but you shouldn't expect to want to spend the entire day watching the parade go by.

 

This review is provided by an NYCTourist staff member and is a composite of actual reviews. This may be a paid advertiser.

New York St. Patrick's Day Parade Photos



*Some images shown above are not actual photos from the venue, but category representations. Visit the hotel's web site for actual photos.

New York St. Patrick's Day Parade

Mar
17

Location

St. Patrick's Day Parade
535 Fifth Avenue
New York, US
View Map

Event Date

Mar 17,2018

Event Cost

FREE

Irish Pride, Uniformed Men, and Green Beverages at the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

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Event Quick Facts

  • The St. Patrick's Day Parade in NYC starts at 44th Street at 11am and moves north up Fifth Avenue, ending at 86th Street at 5pm.
  • Public drinking of alcohol is strictly forbidden during the St. Patrick's Day Parade in NY.
  • New York does like a party and St. Pat's Day is reason for some of the best parties & crawls... check out Joonbug's up to date and complete list of New York St. Patrick's Day parties here

Website:
nyc-st-patrick-day-parade.org

Nearest Transit:
42nd St-5th Ave-6th Ave (7, B, D, F, V); Times Square-42nd St (1, 2, 3, S, 7, N, Q, R, W, A, C, E)


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