Despite cloudy skies and chilly temperatures, thousands of Greek-Americans and supporters gathered on New York City’s iconic Fifth Avenue on Sunday to celebrate the Greek Independence Day Parade. The event marked 204 years since Greece’s War of Independence from Ottoman rule, drawing attendees from all walks of life, proudly waving Greece’s blue-and-white flag.
First held in 1938, the parade remains a major celebration of Greek heritage and culture, organized by the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York.
This year’s Grand Marshals included General Andrew Poppas, the first Greek-American four-star US Army general; Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patra, representing the birthplace of the Greek War of Independence; and Evangelos Marinakis, businessman and president of Olympiakos FC, celebrating the club’s 100th anniversary.
According to the New York Police Department, this was one of the largest parades in recent years. It began with members of Greece’s Presidential Guard (Evzones) carrying a Greek flag that is hoisted daily atop the Acropolis in Athens. More than 120 groups participated, including 52 floats and 15 bands, marching from 64th to 79th Streets. Attendees traveled from across the New York metropolitan area, Upstate New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and even Montreal, Canada.
Among the political figures in attendance were PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis and members of other Greek political parties.
Other distinguished guests included Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Greece’s Ambassador to the UN Evangelos Sekeris, Greece’s Ambassador to the US Aikaterini Nassika, former US ambassador to Greece George Tsunis, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
In addition to the celebrations, a protest was held demanding justice for the victims of the 2023 Tempe railway disaster, Greece’s deadliest train tragedy.