MANHATTAN – After a one year hiatus due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the grand celebration of Italian-American culture and contributions to New York City returns to Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side for the 77th annual Columbus Day parade.
Officials say around a million spectators will line Fifth Avenue on Monday morning as the parade kicks off in Midtown at 11:30 am. The parade stretches all the way from East 44th Street to East 72nd Street. Dozens of marching bands will be among the 35,000 marchers— they’ll be performing for spectators lining the 28 block route.
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Parade organizers, the Columbus Citizens Foundation, named Long Island businessman Michael Pascucci will be Grand Marshall of Monday’s festivities— leading the marchers, bands and floats up Fifth Avenue in celebration of Italian American heritage and culture.
If you cant make it to see the parade in person, you can watch this years festivities from the comfort of your own home— ABC 7 will be broadcasting the parade from Noon to 3:00 pm, with their coverage hosted by Eyewitness News anchors Ken Rosato and Sandra Bookman.
A warning for drivers planning to hit the streets on Monday— there is a long list of road closures on the Upper East Side for the Columbus Day Parade.
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Monday’s Road Closures on the Upper East Side:
- 5th Avenue between 72nd Street and 42nd Street
- 60th Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue
- 62nd-64th Streets between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue
- 68th-70th Streets between Park Avenue and 5th Avenue
- 72nd-74th Streets between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue
- 75th-78th Streets between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue
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