The annual parade down Fifth
Avenue to honor the patron saint of
Ireland is a New York tradition that
dates as far back as 1766. The
festivities kick off at 44th Street and
Fifth Avenue at 11:00 am on March 17th,
with bagpipers, high school bands, and
the ever-present politicians making their
way up Fifth Avenue to 86th Street, where
the parade will probably finish around
2:30 or 3:00 pm.
The best viewing spots are
toward the north end of the parade route,
away from the shopping and work-a-day
crowds that throng the sidewalks below
59th Street. Try sitting on the upper
steps of the Metropolitan
Museum of Art for a great view or catching a close-up
view of the marchers where the parade
turns east on 86th Street.
The New York Convention
& Visitors Bureau says that the St.
Patrick's Day Parade is the largest and
most famous of the many parades held in
the city each year. We believe this gives
us all the more reason to celebrate --
see the review of the Kinsdale
Tavern for more ideas on
how to spend this traditional Irish
holiday.
