NYC Columbus Day Parade Returns To 5th Avenue After Virtual 2020

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Italian flags, marching bands and Maseratis will proceed up Fifth Avenue on Monday for the first time in two years as the popular Columbus Day parade makes a grand return to New York.

The annual celebration of Italian-American culture, now in its 77th year, was forced to go virtual last year during the pandemic. But it's back for the holiday on Monday, when participants will gather on 47th Street around noon and march up Fifth Avenue to 72nd Street until 3 p.m.

Fifth Avenue will be closed to traffic starting at 11 a.m., according to the NYPD.

This year's honorees include Joe Gurrera, owner of Citarella, and Daniel Nigro, the New York City Fire Commissioner. Also in attendance will be the West Point Marching Band a number of dignitaries driving up the boulevard in Maseratis.

The illustrious parade boasts more than 100 participating groups each year, with past years' marchers including Frank Sinatra, Yogi Berra, Sophia Loren and Joe DiMaggio. In 2001, it was the first major public event held after 9/11.

Read more about the parade at its official website.