BootsnAll Travel Community

Hey All,
I'm going to be in NY City for St. Patrick's Day this year. I was wondering if anyone had info on the Parade...is it worth seeing? Where's the best place to see it? How early should we go? How cold will it be?

Thanks for any help you can give!

My flight back home was cancelled, so I was able to see part of the St. Patrick's Day parade last year. I wasn't too impressed, thinking it was just a bunch of regional high school bands and police forces, though from looking at my pictures later they seemed to be from all over the country (countries?). Maybe I didn't see the "good" part.

I suggest getting a spot away from the crowded midtown locations, maybe farther up on the Upper East Side towards the end of the parade route, or arriving early. Otherwise you might not get a very good spot. This might sound ridiculous, but I probably would have been able to enjoy the parade more would I have been able to sit down - but I don't think you can do that any where due to crowding. I just don't like standing still.

A cold wave had just passed through the city when I was there for the parade, bringing the temp into the 30's (from near 70*!) with lots of sun and snow on the ground. Around the sidewalks it was very wet with fairly deep puddles. This year the forecast looks like it'll be in the 50's, which is probably pretty close to normal. I'd recommend a medium jacket or coat.

St. Patty's Day in NYC is one big party. Just a word to the wise: wherever you're staked out, it can get pretty rowdy.

This is the first year I'm not working radio promotions during this parade, which is nice and relaxing. You should be fine in Midtown. About.com has some other suggestions:

quote:

Toward the north end of the St. Patrick's Day Parade route are the best viewing spots: you can avoid the crowds that throng the sidewalks below 59th Street. The upper steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art provide a great view or you can get a close-up view of the marchers where the St. Patrick's Day Parade turns east on 86th Street.

The parade runs from 5th & 44th to 86th St.

You will want to arrive early to get a good spot. I would also recommend wearing layers--it will be cold in the AM and warm up a wee bit later in the day.

If you want to swing buy some Irish Pubs, there's tons around the city. Connoley's on 47th (between Lexington & 3rd) is always a blast during the parade. Afterwards head down to McSorley's on East 7th (in the Village)--a drinking institution since 1854.

Hey Ashley...

How was it? Did we help? Did you get a good spot? If you cannot remember, then you must have had a blast!