A sea of green will move through New York City on Monday as bagpipes blow in the 264th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Run entirely by volunteers, the New York event was first held in 1762, making it the oldest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world, according to its website. It’s also the largest, drawing about 150,000 marchers and nearly two million spectators each year, the site says.
The procession will kick off at 11 a.m. sharp, at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and East 44th Street, before heading north.
“There is a lot of interest this year,” said Hilary Beirne, the parade’s chief administrator. “We are looking forward to a great day.”
Here’s what to know about this year’s festivities.
Where can I watch the parade?
The event will be presented live on NBC 4 New York. It will also be streamed on Roku, YouTube, Samsung TV Plus, Xumo, PlayCozi, and on the parade’s and NBC 4’s websites.
Gus Rosendale, a co-anchor of NBC 4’s “Weekend Today in New York,” will host the coverage alongside Rana Novini, who anchors the station’s weekend newscasts. Treasa Goodwin-Smyth, host of the “Ireland Calls Radio Show,” and Tommy Smyth, a soccer announcer for ESPN, will also participate in the broadcast.
What is the parade route?
As usual, the parade will move north along Fifth Avenue from East 44th Street to East 79th Street. No portable restrooms will be available along the route.
Spectators seeking the best view should try to snag a spot as early as 10:15 a.m. The best vantage points are typically at 59th Street and near Rockefeller Center, Mr. Beirne said.
Who will be in the parade?
State and local officials, including Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams, will participate in the parade, along with the Police Department’s marching band and its Emerald Society, a group dedicated to Irish American heritage.
A string of high school and college marching bands will also participate, including the Xaverian Pipe and Drum Corps and the New York University Pipes and Drums Band. A pipe band from the Emerald Society of the Port Authority Police Department will march, as will representatives from Aer Lingus, Ireland’s national airline.
A full list of marchers can be found here.