The NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of New York City’s greatest traditions and the city’s most popular parade. The first parade was on March 17, 1762 — fourteen years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade consists only of marchers;  each year it hosts some 250,000 marchers and two million spectators. Both parade watchers along the route or those watching on TV can enjoy outstanding marching bands, bagpipers in marching formations, high-school and college bands from throughout the United States and from all over the world.