NYC Greek Independence Day Parade 2019: Street Closures, Route

NEW YORK, NY — Thousands of marchers and spectators will flock the Upper East Side on Sunday to celebrate the annual Greek Independence Day Parade in New York City. The 2010 census estimates that there are about 202,000 people of Greek ethnicity living in the New York City area, making it one of the largest Greek enclaves in the country.

The parade is organized by the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, a group that was founded more than 80 years ago to "uphold the ethnic ideals of our country, America, and those of our birth land Greece" and support Greek-American philanthropies and businesses.

Interested in attending the parade? Here's everything you need to know:

Start/end time:

This year's parade is expected to begin around 1:45 p.m. and end about three hours later. The parade is held rain or shine, so weather will not be a factor.

The National Weather service predicts that a drizzle and light rain will begin around 2 p.m. and there's a possibility of showers and thunderstorms at night, so bring an umbrella to the parade.

Route:

Astoria, Queens is the largest Greek neighborhood in New York City, but there's nowhere quite like Manhattan's Fifth Avenue to hold a big parade. Marchers will line up on Fifth Avenue at East 64th Street and continue up the avenue to East 79th Street, according to the parade's website.

Parade floats will make a longer trip and end up at East 81st Street.

Getting to the parade:

Anywhere along the Fifth Avenue parade route is a good place to watch the parade. To get there, you will want to take the subway. Driving will prove near impossible due to the amount of roads that will be shut down near the parade route.

The closest subway stations to Fifth Avenue are located along the 4/5/6 line. Stops at East 68th and 77th streets along Lexington Avenue will make for the shortest walks to the parade route. Many people coming from Astoria will be taking the N or W trains. Switch to the 6 train at 59th Street-Lexington Avenue.

Street closures:

The NYPD will close the following streets during the parade. The department has the discretion to close even more streets on the day of the parade for safety reasons.

Formations:

• Fifth Avenue between 60th Street and 64th Street
• 61st Street between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue
• 62nd Street between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue
• 63rd Street between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue
• 64th Street between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue
• 65th Street between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue
• 66th Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue

Route:

• Fifth Avenue between 64th Street and 79th Street

Dispersal:

• Fifth Avenue between 79th Street and 83rd Street
• 79th Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue
• 80th Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue
• 81st Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue
• 82nd Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue
• 83rd Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue

Miscellaneous:

• Madison Avenue between 59th Street and 66th Street
• 69th Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue
• 69th Street between Madison Avenue and Park Avenue
• 78th Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue
• Madison Avenue between 78th Street and 80th Street
• 80th Street between Madison Avenue and Park Avenue
• 81st Street between Madison Avenue and Park Avenue
• 82nd Street between Madison Avenue and Park Avenue
• 83rd Street between Madison Avenue and Park Avenue