Columbus Day Parade Canceled for First Time Ever Due to Weather
This year’s Columbus Day Parade in New York City was called off due to a blizzard, marking an unprecedented event in the parade’s nearly 100-year history. Many New Yorkers expressed their dissatisfaction with the decision.
“The Columbus Day Parade is canceled because of rain?! Really?!” voiced an upset individual, Jack W., on social media.
“Rain?! That’s an absurd excuse. We want the parades back, come what may!” he added, perhaps reflecting a sentiment shared by many.
Originally, this was set to be the 81st annual parade. It was canceled just a few hours before it was due to begin on Monday morning, and there are no plans to reschedule it.
The forecast had anticipated several rainy and windy days, and as the weekend progressed, people wondered whether the parade might still take place despite the inclement conditions.
Initially, it seemed like the parade was still on. But then, late Sunday, Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency due to severe weather conditions. This prompted the parade organizers to make the tough call.
In a statement, the Columbus Citizens Foundation, which oversees the event, explained, “Because of the Governor’s declaration related to dangerous weather—high winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding—we must cancel the 81st Columbus Day Parade to prioritize the safety of everyone involved.”
For the first time since it started in 1929, the parade was dropped from the schedule due to the weather. In fact, this was the first cancellation of any kind since the pandemic in 2020.
While heavy rain hit the area on Sunday night, by Monday, the worst seemed to have passed. The city was left with stuffy, drizzly conditions, leading some to question whether canceling was necessary.
“It’s barely raining!” one person commented, suggesting the show could have gone on.
Despite the weather, some residents took to social media to voice their anger. One post read, “Wait! The parade is canceled due to just a little rain? Where’s the tough New York spirit? It’s wimpy to bow out like this!”
Fans of the parade worried not only about this year’s cancellation but also the future of Columbus Day itself in the city. Mayor Eric Adams had raised his own concerns about potential backlash facing prospective City Hall candidate Zoran Mamdani if he wins in November.
Mamdani has openly criticized Christopher Columbus, notably making headlines in 2020 when he showed disdain for a Columbus statue and publicly advocated for its removal.
People were further incensed that the Gaza 5K event, which supported charities linked to Hamas, went ahead in stormy weather in Brooklyn on the same day as the canceled parade. Mamdani even participated in that race.
One social media user asked pointedly, “Why was the Gaza 5K allowed to continue when the Columbus Day parade was called off?” tagging Governor Hochul and Rep. Elise Stefanik in their message.
