NYC Columbus Day Parade 2019: Watch Live, Streets Closed, Route

NEW YORK, NY — More than 1 million people are expected to descend on New York City's Fifth Avenue to watch this year's Columbus Day Parade. The avenue will be decked out in red, white and green as the event has become the largest celebrations of Italian-American culture in the world, according to parade organizers.

More than 130 groups are expected to make the march down Fifth Avenue, including various marching bands, floats and community groups. New York city and state elected officials such as Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio often join the march.

This year's parade marks the 75th anniversary of the Columbus Day Parade, organizers said. The first parade occurred in 1929 when Italian-American media mogul Generoso Pope led community members on a march from the then Italian-American enclave of East Harlem to Columbus Circle. These days, the parade is organized each year by the Columbus Citizens Foundation.

Here's everything you need to know whether you're planning to attend the parade or avoid it:

When does the parade start?

Columbus Day celebrations begin with a special mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Tickets are required to enter the cathedral up until 9:15 a.m. After 9:15 a.m. the mass is open to the general public, according to the Columbus Citizens Foundation.

This year's celebration will kick of with a special ceremony at 11:30 a.m., according to parade organizers, but the actual parade won't start until noon. The parade is scheduled to last until 3 p.m.

Parade route:

The parade will begin in Midtown Manhattan on Fifth Avenue and continue into the Upper East Side. The route begins on Fifth Avenue and 44th Street and ends at Fifth Avenue and 72nd Street. There will be "red carpet performances" along the route from 67th and 69th streets, according to parade organizers.

Street closures:

The NYPD closes a number of streets during large-scale parades for safety reasons, and the Columbus Day parade will be no different.

Formation:

• 43rd Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue
• 44th Street between Madison Avenue and Sixth Avenue
• 45th Street between Madison Avenue and Sixth Avenue
• 46th Street between Madison Avenue and Sixth Avenue
• 47th Street between Madison Avenue and Sixth Avenue

Route:

• Fifth Avenue between 72nd Street and 43rd Street

Dispersal:

• 5th Avenue between 72nd Street and 79th Street
• 72nd Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue
• 73rd Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue
• 74th Street between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue
• 75th Street between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue
• 76th Street between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue
• 77th Street between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue
• 78th Street between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue

Miscellaneous:

• 60th Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue
• 62nd Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue
• 63rd Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue
• 64th Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue
• 68th Street between Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue
• 69th Street between Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue
• 70th Street between Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue

How to watch:

If you can't make it out to the Columbus Day Parade in-person, you're not out-of-luck. ABC7NY will be hosting a live stream of the parade starting at noon. The broadcast features live performances from the Broadway cast of Alladin and the United States Military Academy Marching Band.

Watch the ABC7NY stream here.

How to get to the parade:

The easiest way to get to the parade route will be by taking public transportation, especially because most streets in the area will be closed to traffic.

The quickest way to get to the start of the parade route would be to take the B, D, F or M train to 42nd Street Bryant Park, the N, Q, R or W trains to 49th Street or the 4, 5, 6 or 7 trains to Grand Central and walk to Fifth Avenue and 47th Street from one of those stations.

Honorees:

Every year during the Columbus Day Parade several members of the Italian-American community are honored for their contributions to culture and society. This year's grand marshal will be Massimo Ferragamo, the Chairman of Ferragamo USA. Past grand marshals include Regis Philbin, former New York Mets Manager Bobby Valentine, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and politicians such as Rudy Giuliani, Mario Cuomo and Al D'Amato.

"Massimo’s role as the vanguard of a classic Italian brand makes him the perfect choice to serve as Grand Marshal for our 75th Anniversary of the Columbus Day Parade," Columbus Citizens Foundation President Marian Pardo said in a statement. "And his individual accomplishments in wine-making and the creation of one of the most luxurious getaways in Italy; Castiglion del Bosco, are exceptional. His status as an Italian with roots in both Italy and the USA are perfectly themed to have him lead our Parade as we celebrate our Diamond Anniversary."