St. Patrick’s Day celebrations bring massive parades and crowds to New York and beyond
200th St. Patrick's Day celebration parade (Photo: Getty Images)
The annual New York City parade, now in its 264th year, takes over Fifth Avenue with around 150,000 participants and an estimated 2 million spectators, according to event organizers. This long-standing tradition dates back to 1762, making it older than the United States itself.
History of the holiday
St. Patrick’s Day honors Ireland’s patron saint, who is credited with bringing Christianity to the country in the 5th century. Born in Roman Britain, he was kidnapped as a teenager and brought to Ireland as a slave, but later escaped and returned as a missionary.
March 17 marks the day of his death, and by the 9th or 10th century, Ireland had begun observing it as a religious feast. However, the first major St. Patrick’s Day parades started in America in the 18th century, as Irish immigrants sought to celebrate their heritage.
Over time, what was once a solemn religious holiday transformed into a worldwide festival of Irish culture.
Traditions that bring communities together
Today, St. Patrick’s Day is marked by grand parades, lively music, and the widespread display of green, a color long associated with Ireland.
Marking its 264th anniversary, New York City’s iconic parade fills Fifth Avenue with 150,000 marchers and draws nearly 2 million spectators, as per event organizers. This cherished tradition has been celebrated since 1762, predating the founding of the United States.
The procession, which begins at 11 a.m., marches from East 44th Street to East 79th Street, featuring school bands, Irish pipe and drum ensembles, and delegations from the NYPD and other local organizations. Among the prominent figures walking the route are city and state leaders, including the mayor and governor.
Michael Benn, chairman of the Queens County St. Patrick’s Parade in Rockaway Beach, has been named this year’s grand marshal.
Other cities keep the tradition alive with massive celebrations
Saint Patrick's Day parade celebration in Chicago (Photo: Getty Images)
While New York’s parade is among the most famous, cities across the US are also marking the occasion with grand celebrations. Chicago kicked off its festivities on Saturday by dyeing its river bright green, a tradition that has been drawing crowds for decades. Boston and Philadelphia followed with their parades on Sunday.
Savannah, Georgia, is set to hold one of the largest celebrations outside the Northeast on Monday, while across the Atlantic, Dublin is wrapping up its three-day festival with a parade through the Irish capital. Liverpool, England, another city deeply influenced by Irish immigration, is also hosting major festivities.
