St. Patrick’s Day, the annual celebration of all things Irish, is being marked in cities across the country on Monday with boisterous parades and celebrations.
New York City hosts one of the largest and oldest parades in the United States.
The rolling celebration, now in its 264th year, takes place along Manhattan's famed Fifth Avenue. Some 150,000 take part in the march, according to organizers.
The parades are meant to commemorate Ireland’s patron saint but have become a celebration of Irish heritage globally.
Festivities on March 17 were popularized by Irish immigrant communities, who in the 19th century faced discrimination and opposition in the U.S.
The New York parade dates to 1762 — 14 years before the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
It steps off at 11 a.m., heading north along Fifth Avenue and running from East 44th Street to East 79th Street in Manhattan.
A bevy of local politicians, from the mayor to the governor, are expected to walk the route along with school marching bands and traditional Irish pipe and drum ensembles and delegations from the New York Police Department and other organizations.
The grand marshal of this year’s parade in New York City is Michael Benn, the longtime chairman of the Queens County St. Patrick’s Parade held in Rockaway Beach.
NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade Route Map
The parade will kick off on Fifth Avenue at West 44th Street and head uptown to Fifth Avenue and East 79th Street.
How do I get to the St. Patrick's Day Parade?
LIRR and Metro-North plan on adding additional trains to and from Manhattan for paradegoers heading to the parade and heading home.
MTA is advising parade-goers to utilize the 4/5/6 lines, which have stops along the full parade route.
What roads will be closed for the parade?
According to the New York City Department of Transportation, the following closures could be in effect:
Formation:
- Vanderbilt Avenue between 43rd Street and 46th Street
- 43rd Street between Vanderbilt Avenue and 6th Avenue
- 44th Street between Vanderbilt Avenue and 6th Avenue
- 45th Street between Vanderbilt Avenue and 6th Avenue
- 46th Street between Vanderbilt Avenue and 6th Avenue
- 47th Street between Park Avenue and 6th Avenue
- 48th Street between Park Avenue and 6th Avenue
Route:
- 5th Avenue between 83rd Street and 43rd Street
Dispersal:
- 5th Avenue between 86th Street and 79th Street
- 79th Street between Park Avenue and 5th Avenue
- 80th Street between Lexington Avenue and 5th Avenue
- 81st Street between Lexington Avenue and 5th Avenue
- 82nd Street between Lexington Avenue and 5th Avenue
- 83rd Street between Lexington Avenue and 5th Avenue
- 84th Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue
Miscellaneous:
- 49th Street between Madison Avenue and Rockefeller Plaza
- 50th Street between Madison Avenue and Rockefeller Plaza
- 51st Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue
- 53rd Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue
- 58th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue
- 62nd between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue
- 63rd Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue
- 64th Street between Park Avenue and 5th Avenue
- 65th Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue
- 70th Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue
- 71st Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue
- 72nd Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue
- 78th Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue
- Madison Avenue between 42nd Street and 86th Street
Where is the best place to watch the parade in person?
Parade organizers said anywhere along 5th Avenue is a good place to watch and the earlier you get there on Monday, the better.
How do I watch the St. Patrick's Day Parade?
Viewers can watch the NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade over-the-air broadcast on WNBC from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and over-the-air coverage on Cozi TV from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Full coverage of the parade will also be available on NBCNewYork.com and in the NBC New York app for iOS and Android devices.
In addition, viewers can watch the entire parade on the NBC New York streaming channel, which is available on a dedicated Peacock channel, The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, Xumo Play, Amazon Fire, Google TV, Freevee, TCL and Local Now.
Who will be the parade grand marshal?
Michael A. Benn has been named Grand Marshal of the 2025 New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Benn is the longtime chairman of the Queens County St. Patrick’s Parade held in Rockaway.
