Big Crowds Expected For NYC's Saint Patrick's Day Parade
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Warm weather means extra-large crowds will likely be lining the streets of New York City on Saturday for this year's Saint Patrick's Day parade.
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The parade kicks off at 11 a.m. on Fifth Avenue at 44th Street and forecasters are calling for high temperatures of around 60 degrees.
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The parade then marches up Fifth Avenue past St. Patrick's Cathedral at 50th Street, past the American Irish Historical Society at 83rd and the Metropolitan Museum of Art at 83rd Street and ends at 86th Street and Fifth Avenue.
This year's Grand Marshal is Brooklyn's own Frank Comerford.
"The privilege of leading the parade up Fifth Avenue is san honor I never could have imagined," he said.
Comerford said he just wishes his father was around to see him.
"The first he would have said was 'you probably think you're a big shot now' but he would have said it with a smile," Comerford said.
Parade officials say to avoid the crowds, stand anywhere north of 66th Street and Fifth Avenue. The upper steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art provide a great view.
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New Jersey TRANSIT will be providing extra train service to and from the city to accommodate parade-goers. The extra trains will run on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line, Morris and Essex and Port Jervis lines.
CLICK HERE for more information.
PATH is also adding additional trains on Saturday. There will be a train every 10 minutes between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. from Journal Square to 33rd Street via Hoboken line.
Metro-North will have extra service on the Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven lines.
CLICK HERE for more information.
The Long Island Rail Road will have 19 additional trains for parade-goers on the Babylon, Ronkonkoma and Port Washington branches.
CLICK HERE for more information.
It's about a 20-minute walk to the start of the Parade from Penn Station or you can take the F, V, B or D trains for service along Sixth Ave.
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If you are planning on attending the parade, here are some helpful tips and tricks:
Check mta.info to get the latest information on public transportation in New York City.
Bathrooms. The best public bathrooms are in Bryant Park, only two blocks from the beginning of the parade, otherwise be observant of restaurants and hotels, especially if you are standing in more northern area.
Make sure to hold your child's hand. The streets will be busy, so stick together. You'll need to walk fast and maneuver to keep up with the event.
Pack snacks. New York City certainly can be expensive, so packing snacks will help your budget. If you must buy on-site, I recommend venturing into Central Park for some easy-to-carry options.
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Alcohol. Public drinking of alcohol is strictly forbidden during the parade. Anyone found drinking can be ticketed and arrested and police will confiscate all alcoholic beverages.
For more information, visit the parade's official website.
