NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade 2019: Streets Closed, Start Time

NEW YORK, NY — New York City's Irish community will celebrate its heritage during the annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 16. But the parade doesn't just attract those with Irish roots. More than 2 million people are expected to descend on New York City wearing their best green shirts for the nation's largest St. Patrick's Day parade.

Whether you're looking to participate in this year's festivities or looking to avoid them, here's everything you need to know about the New York City Saint Patrick's Day Parade:

The parade route:

The parade takes place on Fifth Avenue, starting in Midtown Manhattan and traveling north to the Upper East Side. The parade will begin on East 44th Street and end on East 79th Street this year. Viewing grandstands will also be set up along the route but spectators must purchase tickets to use them.

Start time:

The first group of marchers will kick off at 11 a.m. The parade ends around 5 p.m., which just so happens to be a perfect time to take the party to a nearby Irish pub for dinner and drinks.

Getting to the parade:

Here's a quick hint: Don't drive. Midtown Manhattan will be at a standstill Saturday because a number of roads will be shut down for the parade.

The subway will be the best way to get to the parade route. The 4/5/6/F/N/R/W/Q all stop on Lexington Avenue at various points along the parade route. The E/M trains also stop at Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street.

If you're coming into Penn Station from the Long Island Railroad you should catch the uptown E train at Penn Station to the Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street station.

If you're coming into Port Authority from New Jersey your should also catch an uptown E train from Port Authority to the Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street station.

If you're coming into Grand Central Station from the Metro-North Railroad you should catch an uptown 4/5/6 train and get off at any of these stations situation near the parade route: 51st Street, Lexington Avenue and 59th Street, 68th Street and 77th Street.

Roads closed:

Streets around the parade route will be totally shut down to vehicle traffic to accommodate the overflow of spectators and marchers.

Here's a list of all the streets that will be shut down Saturday.

Formation:

• Vanderbilt Avenue between 43rd Street and 46th Street
• 43rd Street between Vanderbilt Avenue and Sixth Avenue
• 44th Street between Vanderbilt Avenue and Sixth Avenue
• 45th Street between Vanderbilt Avenue and Sixth Avenue
• 46th Street between Vanderbilt Avenue and Sixth Avenue
• 47th Street between Park Avenue and Sixth Avenue
• 48th Street between Park Avenue and Sixth Avenue
• Fifth Avenue between 42nd Street and 43rd Street

Route:

• Fifth Avenue between 79th Street and 43rd Street

Dispersal:

• Fifth Avenue between East 86th Street and 79th Street
• 79th Street between Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue
• 80th Street between Lexington Avenue and Fifth Avenue
• 81st Street between Lexington Avenue and Fifth Avenue
• 82nd Street between Lexington Avenue and Fifth Avenue
• 83rd Street between Lexington Avenue and Fifth Avenue
• 84th Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue
• 85th Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue

Miscellaneous:

• 49th Street between Madison Avenue and Rockefeller Plaza
• 50th Street between Madison Avenue and Rockefeller Plaza
• 51st Street between Madison Avenue and Rockefeller Plaza
• 58th Street between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue
• 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 Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue
• 65th Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue
• 71st Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue
• 72nd Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue
• 78th Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue
• Madison Avenue between 42nd Street and 86th Street

How to watch from home:

Don't feel like packing in with the crowds on Fifth Avenue? You will be able to watch a live stream of the St. Patrick's Day parade on NBCNewYork.com starting at 11 a.m. and running to 5 p.m., according to parade organizers. The parade will also be broadcast on Hulu TV and Youtube , according to organizers.