NEW YORK --
Irish pride is on full display Saturday for the 2024
New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade. Excitement has been building all morning along the parade route in Manhattan . Around 150,000 people plan to march up Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 79th. More than 2 million are expected to watch from the sidelines. The
New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade is rooted in history. It predates the signing of the Declaration of Independence and is the largest and oldest St. Patrick's Day parade in the world. "I'm the second Irish-born woman and the sixth woman ever to lead the parade in all those centuries. So it's very meaningful for me to think of all the young girls around the
United States, in New York City, around the world looking at me and saying, yes, you can be there too," said Grand Marshal Maggie Timoney. NYPD said parade security is tight, but there are no credible threats. "We will have assets you can see. We will have assets that you can't see," said Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey. The Irish flag was raised at Bowling Green Park on Friday to kickoff the festivities for the 263rd parade. The St. Patrick's Day Parade is the second-largest parade in New York City, behind the Macy's
Thanksgiving Day Parade. It's being held the day before St. Patrick's Day this year so it doesn't conflict with Sunday religious observances. John Dias is an Emmy-nominated reporter. He joined CBS2 News in November 2017.