The spectacle parade features elaborate floats, marching bands, lion and dragon dances galore, Asian musicians, magicians, acrobats and procession by local organizations. This is the biggest winter parade in the East Coast and a national and international tourist attraction. Elected officials, celebrities and community leaders are scheduled to take part in the Parade, which will be covered by local, national and international media. After the Parade at 3PM, an outdoor cultural festival will take place on Bayard Street that will feature performances by musicians, dancers, and martial artists on a large stage.
Unfortunately at 2:30, the end of the parade, right in front of the stage on Bayard St , a police officer started to tell the organizer to let the people know the parade is over. They would have to clear the area for vehicular traffic. At around 3PM a small army of police officer started to clear the Mott St , police vehicles with sirens blasting ran down the street with the performancers still on the stage.The street was full of people. Every major web site & news media listed the event would end at 5pm, even on www.nyc.gov, showed that info. For the actions the police officer did that day, I felt that is was disrespectful to the community, also for thousand of tourist, and a major turnoff for the city. Instead of closing the street for the Feast of San Gennaro for the week, maybe the fair should be closed down 3PM everyday by the police ? :)=