NYC Saint Patrick's Day Parade 2023

The NYC Saint Patrick's Day Parade steps off this Friday morning, March 17.

The NYC Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the world. The first parade was held on March 17, 1762 — 14 years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The parade is held annually on March 17th at precisely 11:00 am in honor of St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, and of the Archdiocese of New York. On years when March 17 falls on a Sunday, the parade is held on March 16 instead.

The parade route goes up Fifth Avenue beginning at East 44th Street and ending at East 79th Street. Approximately 150,000 people march in the parade which draws about 2 million spectators.

The NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has been run entirely by volunteers, many of whom come from generations of families dedicated to the organization of the parade. It takes months of preparation and countless hours to run the world’s oldest and largest parade.

Can I march with my county in the New York City Saint Patrick's Day Parade?

If you would like to march with your county in this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade, you are encouraged to reach out to your county organization, most of whom have websites or social media pages you can contact. The order that the counties march in the parade is different each year. (The 2023 line of march is available below and on the parade's website.)

Marchers should be aware of the parade's marching guidelines which are available here. Business dress code is required - green hats, sneakers, or other “oddball dress” is not permitted. Strollers and service dogs are permitted when marching, but pets are not.

What time does the NYC Saint Patrick's Day Parade start and end?

The parade steps off at 11 am and ends at about 4:30 pm.

Where does the NYC Saint Patrick's Day Parade begin and end?

The Parade begins on 5th Avenue at 44th Street and ends on 5th Avenue uptown at 79th Street.

Will the NYC Saint Patrick's Day Parade be canceled due to bad weather?

The Parade has not been canceled due to bad weather, although organizers do note that the Parade has marched in a variety of meteorologic conditions that have included various examples of inclemency.

How can I watch the NYC Saint Patrick's Day Parade in person?

Anywhere along 5th Avenue will give visitors of the Parade a fine location to experience the Parade. Organizers recommend that if you prefer to stand as close to 5th Avenue as possible, then the earlier you get there, the better. By order of the NYPD, there are no portable restrooms set up along the Parade route.

How can I watch the NYC Saint Patrick's Day Parade from home?

The NYC Saint Patrick's Day Parade live coverage will begin at 11 am EST and continue through 3 pm EST on Friday, March 17 where viewers will be able to enjoy the over-the-air broadcast on WNBC, on NBCNewYork.com, and the NBC 4 App. The NYC Saint Patrick's Day Parade will also be available for a national and international audience through the station's NBC New York News streaming homes on Peacock, The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, and Xumo Play.