Greek Independence Parade took place in the heart of New York City
Thousands of Greek Americans gathered at the iconic Fifth Ave, Manhattan turned blue and white this weekend as the annual Greek Independence Parade Day.
The Parade celebrates the 198th anniversary of Greek Independence from the Ottoman Empire.
Led by Grand Marshal George M. Marcus, this year’s Parade has over 40 floats and almost 100 different organizations showcasing their Greek pride as they make their way north from 64th Street to 79th Street.
The parade began at the corner of 63rd Street and 5th Avenue and the participants marched to 79th Street. The parade attended several bands and floats along with hundreds Greek organizations such as schools, communities, associations and federations.
The Greek Independence Day Parade is the largest gathering of Greek-Americans living outside Greece and has been an important tradition since 1938. It is a parade dedicated to the shared values between Greece and the U.S. and is a day of remembrance, honor and inspiration for all Greek-Americans.
The parade was organized by the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, a non-profit organization established in 1938 and comprised of over 200 groups in the New York City area.
Representing societies from over 100 regions in Greece, its aim is to preserve and promote Greek culture and heritage through cultural events and programs.
