What is Columbus Day
Columbus Day celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus to America on Octuber 12, 1492.
The first Columbus Day celebration took place on Octuber 12, 1792, when the Columbian Order of New York, better known as Tammany Hall, held an event to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the historic landing.
Celebrations at Fifth Avenue
The city of New York commemorates this date with a great parade that runs through Fifth Avenue.
The Parade marches up from 44th to 72nd Street with red carpet performances on Fifth Avenue between 67th and 69th Streets.
About 100 groups of 35,000 artists perform in various fields and styles, take part in the parade
What to expect this day
As it is a big National Holiday, most offices, banks, embassies and cosulates are not open.
It ´s worth seeing the Empire State Building illuminated in white, red and green to reproduce the Italian flag.
Numerous parallel events are organized that animate the center of Manhattan.