Where the Columbus Day Parade Begins: 47th Street
Today, Monday, October 12, 2026, the Columbus Day Parade steps off right here on 47th Street, the heart of New York's Diamond District. If you are in Midtown, here is what is happening, how to get around, and how to enjoy a calm, hands-on hour between the bands.
What is happening at the Columbus Day Parade today
The parade, organized by the Columbus Citizens Foundation, starts in the late morning at 47th Street and Fifth Avenue and marches north up Fifth Avenue toward 72nd Street, running into the afternoon. Roughly 100 groups take part, including marching bands, floats and Italian American community organizations.
Why the parade begins on 47th Street
Marchers gather, or "form up", on the side streets just before Fifth Avenue. In past years the NYPD closed 47th Street between Madison Avenue and Sixth Avenue for this, so the street fills with bands, flags and floats before the parade steps off. It is a rare sight on the same block where jewelers work upstairs every day. Closures can change, so check the NYPD and NYC DOT alerts this morning before you head over.
Getting around Midtown on parade day
Plan your trip a little more carefully than usual. A few tips:
- Fifth Avenue is closed to traffic along the route, so allow extra time by taxi or bus.
- Subway is the easiest way in. Rockefeller Center, 47th-50th Streets (B, D, F, M) and Grand Central are close by.
- Driving? If you are planning to come by car, finding parking nearby will be a challenge today, as 47th Street and the nearby streets are shut for the parade floats. Please plan your trip accordingly.
- Crossing Fifth Avenue is only possible at police-managed points while the parade is passing, so plan your side of the avenue.
- Comfortable shoes matter. You will do more standing and walking than usual.
A calm hour between the bands: the New York Tour of Diamonds
If you want a break from the crowds and noise, our 90-minute Diamond District tour is a quiet, hands-on way to spend the time. You will watch how diamonds are cut, learn how to hold one, look through a loupe, and see a stone set into a piece of jewelry. Every guest leaves with a Polaroid and an inscribed pen. We run tours Monday to Friday, three times a day, and the tour is running as normal today, so you can book and come as planned.
Book your 90-minute Diamond District tour
Nearby ways to round out your day
- St. Patrick's Cathedral (Fifth Avenue at 50th Street): the parade traditionally opens with a Mass here.
- Rockefeller Center: a short walk north. The ice rink opened October 10.
- Bryant Park: a few blocks south on Sixth Avenue. Winter Village opens October 28.
Italian jewelers: the craft behind the parade
Italian jewelers work on 47th Street today, alongside jewelers who came from Amsterdam, Antwerp, Tel Aviv and many other places. The skill behind their work goes back centuries. Vicenza, in the Veneto, has been a goldsmithing centre since the 14th century. In 1817 goldsmith Francesco Caramora moved to Valenza from Pavia, opened a shop and taught local craftsmen; by 1945 the town had over 300 jewelry companies. Valenza became Italy's leading centre for diamond pave, micro-pave and channel setting, and Italy is now the largest gold-jewelry producer and exporter in Europe.
Famous Italian jewelry houses
- Buccellati (Milan, 1919): known for lace-like engraving.
- Bulgari (Rome, 1884): founded by Greek silversmith Sotirio Bulgari.
- Pasquale Bruni, Garavelli and Crivelli: three houses based in Valenza.
- Nardi (Venice): a jewelry boutique on St. Mark's Square.
What these makers gave the industry is hand engraving, invisible settings and finishing complete in every detail. Those are the same hand skills our guests see at the bench on the tour.
Quick answers
Can I watch the parade for free? Yes. Anyone can stand along Fifth Avenue; there is no entrance fee.
Is the tour running today? Yes, it is running as normal today. Tours run Monday to Friday.
Can I book for another day? Yes. If today is too busy, choose any weekday this week. We do not run weekend tours.
Is it pushy or a sales pitch? No. It is a hands-on learning experience. Read more about the tour and Hemant, or see our Private Diamond Sourcing page.
