NEW YORK – Rain or shine, New York City’s 5th Avenue will be green and orange!
The 264th New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade will begin Monday morning in Midtown, drawing in 150,000 marchers and 2 million spectators, according to organizers.
It’s one of the oldest and largest parades in the U.S., dating back to 1762, 14 years before the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
Here’s everything New Yorkers need to know about this year’s parade, including start time, a parade map, and street closures:
What time does the parade begin?
What we know:
The parade begins at 11 a.m. and ends around 4:30 p.m.
NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2025 map
The parade starts at 5th Avenue at 44th Street in Midtown, marches past St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Central Park before ending at 5th Avenue and 79th Street on the Upper East Side.
Formation will take place on 43rd through 48th Streets along parts of Vanderbilt, 6th and Park Avenues.
Drivers should be aware: There is no crosstown traffic route from 43rd through 84th Streets. Click here to jump to street closures.
How to watch the parade in-person
What you can do:
If you plan to watch this year’s parade in person, organizers say you’ll get the best views along 5th Avenue.
This year, plan to arrive early! In these rainy conditions, many spectators will bring umbrellas, leaving less room for crowds.
Spectators can find more FAQs here.
Who is attending?
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 weather forecast: Will the parade be canceled?
New York City is experiencing wet and windy conditions from the remnants of this weekend’s cross-country storm. According to FOX 5 NY‘s Mike Woods, conditions will remain rainy throughout the morning, but conditions will start to ease up.
NYC may see a few more scattered showers throughout the day, but they won’t be as intense as the early morning.
Despite the conditions, parade organizers say the celebrations are a-go!
2025 St. Patrick’s Day Parade street closures
While the parade draws massive crowds, it will also cause widespread street closures throughout Manhattan, from Midtown to the Upper East Side.
Full List of Street Closures:
Formation Areas:
- Vanderbilt Avenue between 43rd Street and 46th Street
- 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
Parade Route:
- 5th Avenue between 43rd Street and 79th Street
Dispersal Areas:
- 5th Avenue between 79th Street and 84th 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 Park Avenue and 5th Avenue
Additional Road Closures:
- 43rd Street between Vanderbilt Avenue and 6th Avenue
- 49th Street between Madison Avenue and Rockefeller Plaza
- 50th Street between Madison Avenue and Rockefeller Plaza
- 51st Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue
- 54th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue
- 57th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue
- 59th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue
- 62nd Street 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 84th Street
Transit Changes:
To accommodate the crowds, the MTA will increase service on the LIRR, Metro-North, and NYC Subway:
Best Subway Routes:
- The Lexington Avenue Line (4, 5, 6) provides the best access to the parade.
- The 5 Av/53 St station (E, M) is a short walk from the parade route.
- Some stairs at the 77 St (6) station will be enter-only or exit-only.
LIRR & Metro-North Adjustments:
- Extra trains will be available before and after the parade.
- The Grand Central Madison terminal provides easy access near the parade route.
- Alcohol bans: LIRR bans alcohol from midnight Saturday to 5 a.m. Monday; Metro-North bans alcohol all day Saturday.
Bus Reroutes:
Expect reroutes on the following lines:
M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M31, M50, M55, M57, M66, M72, M79 SBS, Q32, and most express buses.
Riders should check new.mta.info for real-time updates.
The Source: This article uses information from parade organizers, the NYPD, the Associated Press, NYC DOT and more.
