Manhattan to Celebrate 264th St. Patrick's Day Parade with Estimated 2 Million Attendees Amid Street Closures

The streets of Manhattan are expected to fill with the sounds of bagpipes and the sight of green as the 264th St. Patrick's Day Parade steps off today. According to ABC 7 New York, nearly 2 million attendees are anticipated, bringing together a vibrant mix of celebrants and participants. Commuters are being advised to plan ahead with numerous street closures starting early in the morning.

The parade, a longstanding tradition since 1762, began at 11 a.m. NBC New York reports it will run until approximately 3 p.m., following a route along Fifth Avenue and passing by some of Manhattan’s most iconic landmarks. As the city braces for the influx of attendees, the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North will add extra trains to accommodate the crowd, while alcohol will be prohibited on both lines from 5 a.m. today until 5 a.m. tomorrow.

Road closures will affect a large swath of the midtown area. ABC 7 New York details the planned formation and dispersal areas, which will see closures along Vanderbilt Avenue from 43rd to 46th streets, as well as closures encompassing Madison Avenue between 42nd to 86th streets. 

For those unable to attend in person, the parade will be broadcast live, with both WNBC and Cozi TV airing coverage from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the full event streaming on various platforms such as Peacock and Roku Channel. Adding to the festivity, Michael A. Benn has been named as the Grand Marshal for what promises to be a memorable march. Benn is highly regarded in the community for his role as the longtime chairman of the Queens County St. Patrick's Parade in Rockaway, reports NBC New York.