Columbus Day Parade In NYC

By Dom Bewley

  • Columbus Day is a memorial to Christopher Columbus, the explorer widely credited with discovering America.
  • Columbus was born in Italy, and lived from 1451 - 1506
  • Funded by the Spanish, Columbus was determined to find another route to South Asia.
  • Columbus first lay eyes on America on October 12th, 1492. The rest, as they say, is history. Well, it's all history, but you know what we mean.
  • The first Columbus Day was celebrated in 1792, 300 years later. Better late than never, right?

Now you're nourished on some tasty morsels of key knowledge. Use it wisely, likely at the Columbus Day Parade. That's why you clicked this, right? Here's everything you need to know about the Columbus Day Parade in NYC. Celebrate in style.

When is it?

Why, this very October 14th. Rather than landing on the very day Chris saw the inviting shores of these United States, it takes place on the second Monday of every October. Hence, the 14th.

Celebrations commence at 11:30am, and the parade concludes at around 3pm. So get there early if you want a good spot.

And where is it?

In New York, doy.

But where in New York?

Oh, sorry. Yes, well the famed parade starts on Fifth Avenue and 44th Street. From there, it heads northward towards 72nd Street. That's where the fun stops, and you officially have to go home. No, not really, it's just where the parade ends, silly!

What can I expect?

Well, you get to see all the wonders of the parade, don't you? This year is the 75th anniversary of NYC's Columbus Day Parade, so it's sure to be a good one. More than 35,000 people take part in the parade itself, so expect hundreds of floats and more than a handful of bands. You'll be joining around a million other revelers to celebrate, so it shouldn't be too busy.

While lots of people like to set up around Central Park to get good views of the parade with surrounding bliss of the park's flora and fauna. But you're really good anywhere along the course. Another alternative is on 67th Street, as there's usually some live music around there.

What can I do once it's over?

Dry your tears, human. The whole of New York City is still yours to explore. It's a nationwide holiday, so do whatever you want! You could warm-up at your new favorite coffee spot, or brave the sea as Columbus did, and see New York as Columbus may have. The possibilities are endless!

Let us know what you're looking forward to doing this Columbus Day in the comments below.

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Twilight view of the Empire State Building from Top of the Rock, New York.
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Save on New York Activities and Attractions Save on admission to 90+ London attractions with The New York Pass. Check out @NewYorkPass on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak

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