St. Patrick's Day Parade Tomorrow

St. Patrick's Day Parade, by Amauri Aguiar at flickr

Tomorrow is the 246th anniversary of the first St. Patrick's Day Parade held in New York (it's the oldest parade in the nation's history). The first parade was held in 1762 to honor St. Patrick and the Archdiocese of New York. Over the years it has become a celebration of almost anything Irish. The parade will march uptown on 5th Ave. in Manhattan from 44th St. to 86th St. and will last from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parade goers then usually migrate to 2nd Ave., which can become quite crowded and rowdy.

NYC Transit has a list of subway lines and stops to take you to places along the parade route. There is also a list of bus lines whose service may be disrupted during the parade. The LIRR is adding extra service on its lines to transport people to and from New York for the parade. Also note the MTA will not be serving alcohol on or outside its trains tomorrow and bringing your own is also prohibited. The ban on alcohol caused some disturbance last year, but the LIRR is sticking with it. Metro-North train service will also be augmented.

The NYPD will be on the lookout for public consumption of alcohol within the parade and along its route. Summons will be issued or arrests made if one is caught with alcohol.

Share your St. Patrick's Day pictures with us by sending them to photos(at)gothamist(dot)com or tagging them "gothamist" on Flickr.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Dave Hogarty in News on March 16, 2008 2:05 PM

Comments [rss]

geekanerd

The no-snake thing may also have something to do with this.

But I'm probably just bitter cause they won't let me join their parade.

Kevin Walsh

>>>>The first parade was held in 1762 to honor St. Patrick and the Archdiocese of New York.

The Diocese was instituted in 1808 (celebrating its bicentennial this year)....

www.forgotten-ny.com

Kevin Walsh

Anyone who chases unwanted and despised reptiles out of a country that has no need or use for them deserves a national holiday AND holy day of reverence not only in Ireland...not only in the USA...but everywhere.

Free beer too.

www.forgotten-ny.com

emilydickinson

Want to see the worst of New York? Come see the St Pat's day parade! Like drunk dudes from Hoboken vomiting green beer and exposing themselves to your 12 year old cousin? You couldn't do better! I love some wholesome drunken mischief, but people who get loaded once a year, pissing themselves and puking on the subway is bad for everyone.

Just don't be gay, alright? Or use condoms.

St Pat's is the one day a year I don't drink. I have an appointment with my accountant. Seriously.

blablanyc

It's a holy day of obligation in Ireland. There is no reason for it to be a national holiday. If St Pats can be a national holiday then St Joseph's day (3/19)should be one. And St Joseph is more important than St Pat's. Since the guy only raised Jesus.

Goomba

It isn't a holy day this year cause it is in Holy Week? Didn't the nuns teach you anything?

The stoonad Micks shouldn't have their parade at all and get drunk cause it is Holy Week. Oobatz!

Kevin Walsh

St. Pat's is not a holy day of obligation.

However, it should be a national holiday.

www.forgotten-ny.com

blablanyc

Why do you need to get drunk on a holy day of obligation? It isn't any way to honor a saint.

johnieBK

So the Irish can't drink (a legal substance) on St. Patty's day, but the West Indians can smoke all the pot in the world at the Caribbean Day Parade. Something is wrong here.