St. Patrick’s Day features the wearing of the green up Fifth Ave. (photo by twi-ny/mdr)
Fifth Ave. from 44th to 86th Sts.
Saturday, March 16, free, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
www.nycstpatricksparade.org
With St. Paddy’s Day falling on a Saturday again this year, on March 16 instead of the traditional March 17, which falls on a Sunday, that means it will once more be a somewhat different crowd lining Fifth Ave. for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, fewer office workers on their lunch hour, more suburban youth training it in from Long Island and Jersey. The grand marshal for the 252nd edition of the celebration of all things green is Alfred E. Smith IV, whose great-grandfather — four-time governor of New York Alfred E. Smith, and the Democratic nominee for president in 1928 — was the grand marshal back in 1925. “I am honored to follow in my great-grandfather’s footsteps, leading the Irish community up Fifth Avenue in what is known as the greatest parade in the world,” Smith IV said in a statement. As always, the parade will pay tribute to the Fighting 69th, who will be at the front of the line of march. If you dare stop by any of the myriad Irish pubs in Midtown, you’re liable to experience a pipe and drum corps or two making their way around the many tables filled with lovely pints of Guinness. Éirinn go brách!