The 81st annual Columbus Day Parade in New York City was canceled on Monday due to the governor’s emergency declaration prompted by severe weather conditions, which included flooding across the tri-state region.
The Columbus Citizens Foundation, responsible for organizing the parade along Manhattan’s famous route, announced the cancellation late Sunday night—just over 12 hours before the event was set to begin.
According to the foundation, the event will not be rescheduled.
“Due to the Governor’s declaration of a State of Emergency this evening as a response to the hazardous weather associated with the Nor’easter—including strong winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding in surrounding areas—we must cancel the 81st Annual Columbus Day Parade to ensure the safety of all participants and viewers,” stated a message from the CCF, as reported by FOX 5 NY.
“While we cannot hold this year’s parade, we eagerly await seeing everyone at our 82nd annual parade in 2026.”
The state of emergency, declared by Governor Kathy Hochul on Sunday evening, is active throughout all five boroughs and extends to Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties.
The entire state of New Jersey is also under a State of Emergency.
These emergency declarations facilitate access to resources for addressing any storm-related damages if necessary.
The orders are projected to remain in effect through Monday evening as the Nor’easter continues to impact the East Coast.
The peak impact of the storm is anticipated during the next two high tides—late night at 12 a.m. and again on Monday afternoon at 12 p.m. Each tide could lead to surges of up to 3 feet and waves soaring as high as 15 feet along coastal areas.
New York could experience wind gusts reaching 60 mph, according to recent forecasts, creating hazardous conditions for the parade.
The decision to cancel the parade follows President Trump’s proclamation declaring October 13 to be officially observed as Columbus Day, even amidst ongoing discussions to rename the day Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
“Columbus Day — we’re back, Italians. We appreciate Italians,” Trump asserted.
In contrast, former President Joe Biden issued similar proclamations throughout his presidency to celebrate October 13 as Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Columbus Day has been recognized as a federal holiday since 1971, although Italian communities have celebrated it since the early 1900s.
The movement to honor Christopher Columbus was partly a reaction to the 1891 lynching of 11 Italian Americans in New Orleans, linked to allegations surrounding the murder of police chief David Hennessy.
Hennessy’s reported last words were rumored to have included a slur directed at Italians, leading to public speculation of mafia involvement.
However, many of the individuals arrested had strong alibis and lacked any real connection to the crime. When six defendants were acquitted, it incited public fury, prompting a mob to break into the jail and take justice into their own hands.
This tragic event threatened to unravel diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Italy, leading then-President Benjamin Harrison to declare a national observance for the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s voyage in 1892.
In the wake of this, many Italian American communities embraced their newly celebrated hero, funding memorials and statues in his honor.
