Back to blog st-patricks-day-2017-nyc It’s almost time to wear your greenest outfit and hit the streets of NYC for St. Patrick’s Day 2017. March 17 is the big day when the famous St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place. The route for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade will start at 44th Street, near to Bryant Park and then will continue up 5th Avenue. It will then go in a straight line, along the side of Central Park and ends at 79th Street, next to the American Irish Historical Society. The closest subway station to the start is 5 Av/ 42 St. Alternative stations are 42 St Bryant Pk/ 6 Av and Grand Central. The closest subway station to the end of the parade route is 77 St/ Lexington Av. We recommend using the New York Subway app for the quickest route to these stations. st-patrick-nyc-parade-route The NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade is always a special event. Did you know the first one was held in 1762? Which makes it the oldest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world! It’s also the biggest in the world, featuring the participation of more than 300 groups, including bands and National Guards. If you’re not up for a big parade or if you fancy doing something different this year, there’s still a lot to do in NYC to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 2017. The Irish Arts Center organises events all year round, including live music, comedy acts, theatre, film and dance. For the really adventurous the Irish Arts Center also runs multiple classes so you can learn the Irish language or how to play the Celtic harp. Is a walking tour and a bit of history more your speed? Big Onion Walking Tours, run an Irish New York tour. Discover “Little Ireland” and learn about the Irish immigrants that lived there. The tour takes place on 20 March, 11am and it is advised you book in advance. For a lot of people part of the appeal of St. Patrick’s day is finding an Irish pub and enjoying a drink or two (or more!). But what if you don’t drink or want to make the effort to cut down? Since 2012 the Sober St. Patrick’s Day has become an annual event. Proving that Irish culture doesn’t have to be about the booze, Sober St. Patrick’s Day 2017 will be a lively event perfect for fans of Irish music and dancing. General admission also includes snacks, tea, coffee and soft drinks. So this week, whether you’re cheering the parade, learning your Irish New York history or joining in an Irish dance, we hope you have a fantastic St. Patrick’s Day 2017.   Image Credit: “St. Patrick’s Day” via Flickr Back to blog