St. Patrick’s Day Parade New York 2019: Route, Start Time And Viewing Spots

New York City’s big St. Patrick’s Day celebration will take place a day early this year. Since March 17 falls on a Sunday, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held Saturday, and everything you need to know about it is below.

Start Time: The massive parade is expected to last a whopping six hours. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade goes from 11 a.m. to about 5 p.m., but those who want a good view should get there even earlier. There is no limit to how early onlookers can claim their parade viewing spots.

Route and Viewing Spots: The 2019 NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade will travel north on 5th Avenue, so that’s the street where viewers should line up. After an 8:30 a.m. mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (which is a ticketed event), the marchers will start from 44th Street and end at 79th Street. The beginning of the route tends to be more crowded.

Those who want to sit in the grandstand will have to plan ahead next year. Requests for tickets had to be submitted by March 1.

Live Stream: Though it will be mild weather with a high of 51 degrees and only a few clouds in the sky, there are still people who would rather watch at home or can’t make it to New York. They can watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade live stream on NBCNewYork.com.

Marchers: The parade’s official website has a convenient list of the line of order for viewers looking for a specific group. The parade will start with the 69th Regiment of New York, AKA “The Fighting 69th,” the soldiers who kick off the parade every year. The grand marshal, Dr. Brian J. O’Dwyer, Esq., and his aides will follow shortly after. The massive lineup will conclude with Neptune High School Marching Band as the final musical performance.

Those attending should keep in mind that there are no portable bathrooms along the route. There also isn’t any alcohol allowed. There will, however, be food available at restaurants and food carts on streets adjacent to the parade route.

The New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade started in 1762, more than a decade before the Declaration of Independence was signed. Organizers estimate that there are about 250,000 marchers and two million spectators each year.