New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

This review could really go either way. It’s just how you look at it. Do you think of St. Patrick’s Day as:
(1) The day where people near and far bring out their wonderful Irish-​ness and celebrate together in traditional fashion? Bagpipers, school marching bands, Irish step dancers and a sea full of beautiful Kelly Green? Not to mention the overflowing Guinness being poured (hopefully properly) and the bountiful amounts of Shepard’s Pie or Corned Beef & Cabbage being served? Now THAT’S my kind of holiday! Where everyone is a wee’ bit Irish.
(2) [true story this year…] Where you hop aboard the LIRR and unfortunately missed the «secret» additional trains and are forced to sit with drunken under-​age egotistical teenagers. Yes. There’s nothing quite like sitting comfortably on the train with my green bagel (obvs) and in comes a group of 15 teens playing (from what I can assume) a Drake song AT FULL VOLUME and saying over and over, «turn up! turn up!». And don’t forget the madness of Penn Station & Times Sq* as I make my way uptown… with the drunks and sea of green everywhere you look. Oh, the drunks.
(3) The day where for someone like myself, not apparent Irish but very Irish on the inside gets the opportunity to celebrate one of her most favorite holidays. Brings back all the fantastic memories of studying in Ireland for 5 months and wishes I were back sitting in a pub, listening to Irish folk music and just living life**.
Well, which one did you have?***
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*Saw a girl in Times Sq and this… no joke went down:
Me: Sitting by the red steps waiting for my friend. Sees VERY drunk girl (my age) get overly excited and runs to one of the characters.
Girl: «OH MY GOD. ELMO! OMG ELMO, YOU’RE MY FAVORITE!!! ELMO WILL YOU TAKE A SELFIE WITH ME?» *goes for a big hug*
Me: I turn… It’s freakin’ cookie monster.
**Take me back!
***And I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love St. Paddy’s Day. The Parade is great and well-​worth all these experiences.

The St Patrick’s Day Parade occurs on March 17, each year, to mark the death of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and the subsequent arrival of Christianity in Ireland. New York City boasts the largest St Patrick’s Day parade — and there is no denying the size of the event.
The parade starts at 11am at 44^th street, marching up Fifth Avenue — past St Patrick’s Cathedral at 50^th St – to 79^th St. It finishes around 4:30 at the American Irish Historical Society at E 80^th St.
This parade isn’t one for the kids in the same way of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It’s more of an honor guard — filled with firemen, police, cultural groups, marching bands and bag pipes. It’s not to be missed, but you don’t have to endure it for very long to know the experience it provides. Young kids will be (and are) bored nearly instantly. It’s equally hard for most adults to enjoy.
Older adults will be frustrated by the crowds and the crazy amount of walking required to navigate the parade route. Only the parade route is a straight line. Onlookers must navigate the maze of open and closed streets and sidewalks. And, of course, the must navigate waves of green in various stages of drunkenness.
Attend the parade long enough to pay homage to the long history of the Irish in NY, which seeded so much of the country with Ireland’s culture. And, honor the Firemen and Police that serve our nation’s largest city. After that, visit the splendor of St Patrick’s Cathedral and call it a day.

Top o’ the mornin’ to ya!
Checked out the parade for a bit during my lunch hour today. Seen it many times over the years I have lived in NYC. As the course treks along 5^th avenue it’s now in it’s 253^rd year. Plenty of tradition, with pomp and circumstance, and plenty of men in kilts with the sounds of bagpipes. As usual I saw the fire departments and police also marching, and military too, along with many other organizations.
Can’t forget to mention all the fake Irish drunks around me dressed in green, and those bombarding the UES bars along 2^nd Ave where I live later on with drunken shenanigans and projectile vomiting. It’s always such a fun time watching all these suburban bridge and tunnelers who can’t handle their green beer and whiskey act like fools. Heck, I’ll even admit to getting a wee bit drunk on this holiday in the past celebrating the wearing of the green, but never sloppy bombed!
What I did not see was the NYC Mayor and the City Council marching. Even Heineken, Sam Adams, and Guinness have all pulled their sponsorships from the parade in support of LGBT groups. Wow — no Guinness here!
Later on tonight I’ll raise a Guinness in support of their decision to boycott for what is right, and not because I’m pretending to be Irish like all the drunk meatheads around me.
Maybe I’ll even have a bowl of Lucky Charms for dinner.

I came here with Miss Sarit, and we had a lot of fun. We started the day off by going to a St. Patty’s day breakfast, complete with all you can drink green-​beer, buffet green pancakes /​green bagels /​green butter /​green eggs, etc at an ungodly hour (not that I’m religious) — 9am! Who drinks at 9am? Me… And apparently the Irish? Okay okay maybe that’s a stereotype but it is the stereotype that gives guys like me the ability to drink at 9am and it be okay; so I am good with it.
After the buffet, I waddled my fat-​arse up to Bryant Park area for the St Patty’s Day Parade, which was great! Although there were no floats or automobiles allowed they kept the momentum and interest going by having firefighters and other officials walk the parade in kilts, playing instruments, etc. A great sight!
What was going on on the inside of the fence, however, was not half as interesting as what was going on on our side! The drunken wannabe-​leprechauns came out of hiding at their ends of the rainbows and wanted the entire world to know it. There were vuvuzelas, blowhorns and tons of inebriation ensuring that the spectacles had as much fun as the spectators. Singing, dancing and obnoxious jeering was the theme of the day which was nice to see in the busier areas of Manhattan; that is the green and comradery drowning out the apathy and grey business suits that are the norm ’round these parts. The green-​magic sprinkled it’s Jameson-​flavored fairy dust over this area for sure!
Had a great time. Pretty sure I’ll be urinating a cool radioactive-​green for the next few days.

This was exactly what you would expect. A couple of Irish people, a ton of white trash high school and early college kids looking to get drunk, and a hand full of jocks looking to fight. The parade itself was kind of cool.

I passed by 56^th street yesterday just trying to walk across and ended up seeing some of the parade. It was cool, honestly the first time I have really been to the Parade on March 17^th. I bet the parade view is alot nice towards the end of the actual parade. I usually am not even close, stay away on the days. Of course I did see some drunken vomiting but that was expected. I saw a few people that were walking around really tore up. Probabaly some were High School kids that don’t know how to handle their liquor already. Just the amount of alcohol consumed on St. Patrick’s Day alone is probably astronomical. i however stepped into a bar or two myself in the area, but stayed STRAIGHT EDGE and did not consume any alcohol on this day for some reason. Oh well, there is always next year.
–It was nice that people are just partying though having a good time on the Irish holiday. That is what is a important, good time gets had by all and hopefully people can still walk in the straight line and not get hit by cars on their way home.
–I might check out the parade again next year. I can get some more of that groupie lovin’. I CAN think of a story now to tell the girls how I am black and Irish. Chicka Chicka Yeah…

Awesome. Having been to a St Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC and Boston. Savannah rocks! This is awesome from the point of view if you want to come and party, which it clearly does. Or if you just want to bring the family and enjoy the parade. Killer time.

This is my 8^th year flying out for the parade, my man is a Firefighter and his best bud is now a Retired FDNY. So we started coming in 2002, and that year with the 343 Firefighters with United States flags (one for each fallen firefighter) with complete silence from a million folks as the marched by… well what can I say… does make one veklempt…
And over the years I’ve stood by St. Patrick’s Cathedral (obviously on the wrong side by seeing someone else’s post, in the shade… stupid me) waiting dutifully for my man in uniform to walk by, stop and give me a kiss and the crowd to go «awwwwwww» in unison. What could be better… eh?
Well If you even want to be up at the rail you’ve got to get there earlyish, and okay this year was a major exception (63 amazing degrees) but usually is friggin’ cold! And then it takes at least 2 hours for the Firefighters to come by, and by that point I’m a popsicle. And I need to pee and I’m starved…
And now I must make my way block by block like a salmon swimming upstream to get out of the crazy green drunk madness (and I’m short to boot).
I even tried walking 6^th ave. this year to avoid some of the madness, oh hell no the drunk, green crazy folks were swarming there too. And I’m talking 11:30 in the am and not a few, hundreds of them yelling and screaming and chanting… I’m really kind of over it. I can only imagine how those New Yorkers must feel that have been dealing with it longer than I.
Again I love the actual pomp and circumstance of the «actual» parade and what it stands for… next year will be it’s 250^th year.WoW. And walking down 5^th Ave. in the greatest City in the world, I can only imagine how my husband in his Class A uniform feels. But as a spectator dealing with the drunk schmucks this year… by 1pm my cousin had called (she works in the Empire State Bldg.) and said let’s meet for lunch in Bryant Park, I was soooo done and «I’m there»!
So sorry St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the first year I would have given you 5 stars in my awe, but now I can only pass out 3 for you. You attract to many drunkies.
PS. somebody said its a heyday for the single folk, I’d agree you’ve got all those hotties in uniform, could be a productive bar hopping evening. I’m just glad I’ve already got my hottie secured. :-)

I dont understand why the don’t do these parades on like 2^nd ave or something…

Thank you for Guinness and McDonald’s Shamrock Shake!

The following review is written by someone that should not operate heavy or any kind of machinery at the moment; to really get educated on this parade see the review below me — my I.Q. actually went up as i was reading it… If you can’t have fun at this parade, than maybe you should reevaluate yourself.
Single Guys — This is an Irish Valentine’s Day, do you know how easy it is for you guys to hook up with anything all day and night, and what perfect place to start than at the parade? (get some kind of military, sailor uniform — the girls will drop their pants right there).
Single Girls — The parade if full of men in uniform, Enjoy the winks and stares. Admire the cockiness of them all. Laugh at the people that are already drunk in the crowd this early and have a great time with your friends.
Couples — I also recommend you guys go here. Your girl will get aroused after seeing all of the beautiful men NYPD, Firemen, etc. Your guy will also get aroused fantasizing about rendezvous with drunk, wild college girls you guys will be standing by…
Win, win situation all around… have fun and don’t drink and Unilocal

The NYC Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is the first St. Patty’s parade in the world (1762). It also lays claim to be the countries largest parade with approximately 150,000 participants and 3 million spectators lining the 1.5mile route from 44^th st to 86^th st along 5^th ave. The parade usually starts around 11am and goes until it pretty much gets dark (about 6 hours or so).
TIPS to help you enjoy the parade experience more:
1. The two main spots for the Parade are in front of the gorgeous St. Patrick’s Cathedral (51^st st) and where the bleachers and TV crews are by Central Park (around 62^nd-​65^th streets I believe) those area’s can get very busy (especially anything below 59^th street). If you want to avoid the crowds and not have to get there early to «get a spot» go and stand somewhere in the 70s. On your way up grab a free program by the bleachers (or if you don’t mind going early to get a great spot and a seat then the bleachers would be a good idea). Some online resources will tell you that a great view is to sit on the steps of the Met (82^nd st), the museum doesn’t always allow this anymore so I wouldn’t count on that being possible.
2.Stand on the West Side of 5^th ave and you’ll be in the Sun for most of the parade instead of being in the cold shade on the other side of the street
3.The parade is many many hours long and you would be foolish to stay and watch the whole thing. Everything you want to see (the NYPD, FDNY, the Mayor, the Military, some great school bands, and the Grand Marshall) are within the first hour or two.
4.Don’t expect any floats, audience participation, or celebrities (this isn’t a Disney World/​Mardi Gras/​Thanksgiving Day type parade). Also Irish dancers at these parades are rare if there are any at all. What you will see is some of the best bagpipers and drummers marching in very traditional dress (think plaid kilts and large head gear) and lots of Irish groups and families marching along.

I’m a new Unilocaler and I just learned something — apparently you have to give something one star. I tried to un-​click that one star and failed. If I could give this less than one star I would.
I’m a quarter Irish and live on the Upper East Side (read: Where Parades Come to Die). I have nothing against the Irish and nothing against Liquor but I’m generally not a fan of Holidays that center around drinking — who the f*ck needs a Holiday? Why not any given Tuesday night? Such amateur nights aren’t any fun for me. The classic response to any heckler «I remember my first beer!» always comes to mind.
So on some random night once a year I notice a bunch of police and firemen and EMS people milling around and a ton of people wearing green — and the bars spilling out into the street and their patrons spilling their green dyed stomach contents loudly in the streets. Invariably I watch alcohol fueled jackasses making inappropriate remarks to women and at least one fight break out and that is observed by a guy who makes a conscious decision not to leave his apartment when he can avoid it that day. I am usually am in the neighborhood less than an hour on St. Patrick’s.
The one saving grace– it’s not the Puerto Rican day parade. More or less the same kind of party except the bass from passing cars penetrates my apartment walls more than bagpipes do… go figure.
I

«I’m not Irish, but you can kiss, hug, lick, suck, f**** me all you want»
a guy in a full neon green body suit, complete with a hood that covers his face.
25 different bagpiping organizations
a bajillion different fire/​police/​Irish organizations
These are just a few things I observed today. Today, the biggest non-​national holiday of the year. March has no national Holiday, maybe that’s why around the middle of the month we have a giant party to celebrate one nationality; the drunkest, funniest nationality of them all. For many, it’s the first excuse to drink and celebrate anything since President’s Day!
A son of Irish immigrants, I may not drunkenly follow the parade, but I will definitely be drinking many Irish Milk Shakes today. Hopefully the bartenders pour a proper Guinness, and don’t give me a Bishop (Guinness pour with a really thick collar)

The color green makes me car sick.

Great event with a proud tradition, even for us non-​Irish.
Just drink responsibly, even as a non-​driving bar-​hopper. And if you feel the onset of the spins, aim for a trash can or some kind of greenery and keep the vomit off the sidewalks, especially you annoying out-​of-​towners.

I am obviously not Irish. I know you’re all shocked right now. I could be. My adopted family is quite Irish. Do I get a pass?
This is a very, very fun event for me besides New Year’s Eve in Times Square. All I can say are that drunks are funny. Drunk New Yorkers are so lively and pretty damn friendly too. I do enjoy seeing the firemen and the cops marching. Even though I’m not Irish, I appreciate the pride shown in this parade. The ONLY other event I enjoy more is the Puerto Rican Day parade.
Let me make this clear. How can you live in NY and not attend the St. Patricks Day Parade? At least once?

Why 5 stars? Because when the fireman and cops are getting ready to walk and are all standing around waiting their turn, well, it’s like a woman’s heaven. I mean hundreds of men in uniform all in one place!!! What I can do without is the drunken brawlers who can’t walk straight and you end up bruised from head to toe after they bash into you.

Beautiful rosy-​cheeked children sitting atop their Dad’s shoulders, watching great-​looking women and men of all sizes proudly marching up Fifth Avenue in their kilts, our handsome uniformed New York’s Finest and New York’s Bravest, school children from the Five Boroughs and from all over the world playing Irish tunes.

Loud, raucous, drunken revels, with greenfaced, barfing people spilling out afterward all around the nabe and litter all over.
Watch it on TV if you must…