New York City’s annual Columbus Day Parade marches through Manhattan on Monday, celebrating Italian pride.
This year’s parade may be impacted by a nor’easter that’s bringing high winds and heavy rain Sunday into Monday. But as of now, the festivities are still on.
Is Columbus Day a federal holiday?
Yes. That means the U.S. Postal Service and most banks are closed.
Under normal circumstances, federal workers have the day off with pay, but that may be impacted by the government shutdown.
President Trump signed a proclamation Thursday reiterating the importance of the holiday in American history. Mr. Trump also said earlier this year that he would not recognize Indigenous Peoples Day, something former President Joe Biden had done each year in office.
NYC Columbus Day Parade 2025 start time
People watch the annual 79th Annual Columbus Day Parade on Fifth Avenue on October 09, 2023 in New York City.
Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images / Michael M Santiago/Getty Images
Organizers say the 81st annual Columbus Day Parade starts at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 13. It’s expected to last about three and a half hours, ending around 3 p.m.
But even before the parade, there’s a special mass at 9 a.m. inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Route for NYC’s Columbus Day Parade
The parade marches up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, traveling roughly 30 blocks from East 42nd Street to East 72nd Street.
Along the way, the route passes by St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Rockefeller Center before running along the East Side of Central Park.
Columbus Day Parade road closures in Manhattan
The NYPD says the following streets will be closed for the parade Monday:
Formation:
- East 43rd Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue
- East 44th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue
- East 45th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue
- East 46th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue
- East 47th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue
Route:
- 5th Avenue between 72nd Street and 42nd Street
Dispersal:
- 5th Avenue between 72nd Street and 79th Street
- East 72nd Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue
- East 73rd Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue
- East 74th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue
- East 75th Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue
- East 76th Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue
- East 77th Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue
- East 78th Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue
Miscellaneous:
- East 51st Street between 5th Avenue and Rockefeller Plaza
- East 58th Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue
- East 60th Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue
- East 62nd Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue
- East 63rd Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue
- East 64th Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue
- East 68th Street between Park Avenue and 5th Avenue
- East 69th Street between Park Avenue and 5th Avenue
- East 70th Street between Park Avenue and 5th Avenue
- Madison Avenue between East 76th Street and East 68th Street
What’s open and closed on Columbus Day?
New York City public schools are closed Monday. Alternate side parking rules and sanitation collection are both suspended.
Here’s a look at some other points of interest:
- New York Public Library: All locations closed
- Brooklyn Public Library: All locations closed
- New York Botanical Garden: Open
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Open
- NYC museums: American Museum of Natural History, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney are open for normal hours, among others
- NYC landmarks: Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, One World Trade Observatory, Vessel at Hudson Yards, 9/11 Museum & Memorial and Intrepid Museum are open, as well
- Area shopping: American Dream Mall and Woodbury Common outlets are both open, too