A sea of green covered Midtown Manhattan Saturday as thousands gathered for the NYC St. Patrick’s Day parade.

New York City’s main parade is the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world, dating back more than 260 years.

What You Need To Know

  • The NYC St. Patrick's Day parade is the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world, dating back more than 260 years

  • Organizers said approximately 150,000 people march in the parade

  • People of all different cultural backgrounds made it out to celebrate

  • The Grand Marshall, Maggie Timoney, grew up in Ireland and said she is proud to lead the parade

More than 150,000 marchers take part in the celebration of Irish heritage. Paradegoers traveled from across the country and the world, including from Ireland, of course.

“I have relatives, so I’ve been here quite a lot. They’ve always said to come to New York for the parade, so we held them to it,” Marie McCann, a paradegoer from Ireland, said.

“It just is [a dream come true to be here for the parade,] we’ve always thought of it, but I’ve never been here before so that’s why we’re here to celebrate with everyone in New York, it’s amazing,” Danielle Hagarty, another paradegoer from Ireland, said.

Bagpipers, cheerleaders and New York police, among others, began marching at 44th Street up Fifth Avenue.

“The bagpipes just set the tone for peace and tranquility. Beautiful music,” Carol Bodine, a paradegoer from Manhattan, said.

Jim Kain said the sights and sounds of the parade remind of his childhood. He is 100% Irish.

“It’s a time of coming together and celebration. It is always a great day here,” Kain said.

The parade route passes by St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where a pre-parade Mass was held Saturday morning, before ending on 79th Street.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who presided over the Mass, said it was a full house ahead of the parade. He shared what St. Patrick’s Day means to him and the Irish American community.

“The Irish tell me that’s one of the meanings of St. Patrick’s Day, that it’s right at that bridge day between winter and spring. It’s almost like antipasto, pardon me for using the Italian word, antipasto for Easter, as we’re prepared for the new life and growth because the Irish have always been people of hope,” Dolan said.

Both Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul also marched in this year’s parade.

“So honored to be here to celebrate this great tradition. It looks like a spectacular day to march up Fifth Avenue and show our colors,” Hochul said.

The parade’s Grand Marshall, Maggie Timoney, grew up in Ireland and said she is proud to lead the parade. She said some of her values in the parade resonate with her culture.

“It’s family, it’s faith and it’s community. Those three things are interwoven into everything in the fabric of the Irish culture,” Timoney said.