St. Patrick's Day is in two weeks, but the celebration really kicks off this weekend with a parade on Staten Island, and two in Queens!
The first parade is the annual Queens County St. Patrick's Day Parade in the Rockaways on Saturday, March 3rd. The parade starts at 1 p.m. and ends at 5 p.m., and even though a lot of major public officials attend (last year, Mayor de Blasio and Public Advocate James were there), it still has a small town feel, thanks to the many lawn parties along the way. Here are the street closures:
Formation:
- Newport Avenue between Beach 130th Street and Beach 129th Street
- Beach 129th Street between Newport Avenue and Rockaway Beach Boulevard
-Rockaway Beach Boulevard between Beach 130th Street and Beach 129th Street
Route:
- Newport Avenue between Beach 129th Street and Beach 116th Street
- Beach 116th Street between Newport Avenue and Rockaway Beach Boulevard Rockaway
- Beach Boulevard between Beach 116th Street and Beach 102nd Street
Dispersal:
- Beach 102nd Street between Rockaway Freeway and Rockaway Beach Boulevard
- Rockaway Beach Boulevard between Beach 102nd Street and Beach 99th Street
Closure:
-Same as location
Mayor de Blasio at last year's Rockaway parade. (Scott Lynch/Gothamist)
On Sunday, there are two parades: First it's the Richmond County St. Patrick's Day Parade on Staten Island at noon. Mayor de Blasio won't be attending, but that's nothing new—the Staten Island Advance reports, "This will be the fourth year in a row de Blasio hasn't attended the Staten Island St. Patrick's Parade. The last three times, the mayor boycotted the parade for not being inclusive. The mayor's office wouldn't say if de Blasio would have chosen to boycott the event again if he didn't have 'scheduling conflicts.'" Here are details on where the Richmond County parade will be:
Formation:
- Hart Boulevard between Forest Avenue and Revere Street
Route:
- Forest Avenue between Hart Boulevard and Jewett Avenue
Dispersal:
- Forest Avenue between Jewett Avenue and Ordell Avenue
Closure:
- Same as location
(Scott Lynch/Gothamist)
Speaking of inclusiveness, the St. Patrick's Day for All parade in Queens, which prides itself for being welcome to all to "celebrate Irish heritage and culture regardless of race, gender, creed or sexual orientation," is at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Formation:
- 43rd Street between Skillman Avenue and Barnett Avenue
Route/Dispersal:
- Skillman Avenue between 43rd Street and 56th Street
- 56th Street between Skillman Avenue and Woodside Avenue
- Woodside Avenue between 56th Street and 61st Street
Closure:
Same as location
