When is New York City's St. Patrick's Day Parade? Map, start time & street closures
NEW YORK -- New York City will be a sea of green this weekend for the historic St. Patrick's Day Parade.
The parade is the longest running St. Patrick's Day celebration in the world, dating back to 1762.
This is the 236th year it will march up Manhattan's Fifth Avenue.
Approximately 150,000 marchers and two million spectators are expected to attend.
Map of the parade route
The parade travels up Manhattan's Fifth Avenue for about 35 blocks, starting at 44th Street and ending near 79th Street. It will pass by St. Patrick's Cathedral before coming up the east side of Central Park.
Spectators are encouraged to arrive early for the best view along Fifth Avenue.
What time does the parade start and end?
St. Patrick's Day is Sunday, but the parade will be held Saturday in order to observe the sabbath.
It steps off at 11 a.m. Saturday and is expected to wrap up around 4:30 p.m.
Will it rain?
Our First Alert Weather team reports Saturday will be cool but clear for the parade.
Rain is expected to move in Sunday morning, which could impact the Staten Island parade.
Other ways to celebrate around NYC
Time Out New York's Things to Do Editor Rossilynne Culgan shared a variety of ways to get into the holiday spirit.
The Irish Arts Center is opening up its doors in Hell's Kitchen for of free family fun, including demonstrations on clogging and tin whistles, as well as lessons about social dances and the Irish language.
Sober St. Patrick's Day will be a booze-free way to party in Kips Bay, with a big focus on music -- from the fiddle to accordion, even some pipe music.
If you'd like a little glitz and glam, the American Museum of Natural History's exhibit "Garden of Green" has dazzling jewels on display from the collection of the famous designer Van Cleef & Arpels.
After the city's annual parade Saturday, a new parade will be held Sunday on Staten Island. Organizers say it will be more inclusive and welcome LGBTQ groups, who are banned from attending the borough's parade under its flag.
St. Patrick's Day Parade street closures
The following streets will be closed Saturday, according to the NYPD.
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
Stick with CBS New York for coverage of the weekend celebrations.