Hundreds of thousands of revelers lined the streets along Fifth Avenue today for the 252nd annual parade. Typically, New York City’s parade is held on March 17, the actual date of St. Patrick’s Day. But because the holiday falls on a Sunday this year, the parade is being held on Saturday due to religious observances. The parade, which predates the declaration of Independence of the United States, was led by 750 members of the New York Army National Guard. The 1st Battalion of the 69th Infantry has been marching in the parade since 1851. There were bagpipe bands, Irish dancers, politicians, marching bands and participants from other states. The St Patrick's Day Parade is one of the few remaining where no cars, floats, buses, trucks or other vehicles are allowed.
