New Yorkers irate after annual Columbus Day Parade cancelled over Nor’easter: ‘So wimpy’

New Yorkers have been up in arms after the annual Columbus Day Parade was cancelled due to the nor’easter blowing via town, the primary time in its almost 100-year historical past it was scrapped as a consequence of climate.

“They f’n cancelled Columbus Day Parade in NYC due to rain,” one irate individual, Jack W, wrote on X.

“RAIN!! That’s such a bs excuse & you understand why! We don’t care if it’s rain, we wish our parades and so on again!!” he added.

People walking with umbrellas and ponchos in the rain in Brooklyn with the Manhattan Bridge in the background. — New Yorkers have been left soaked Monday as a nor’easter blew via — however some nonetheless thought the parade ought to have gone on as deliberate. Getty Photographs

The parade — which might have been its 81st working — was referred to as off late Sunday, simply 12 hours forward of its scheduled Monday morning begin time, with no plans to be rescheduled.

Forecasts for the vacation have been moist and windy for days, and plenty of spent the weekend questioning whether or not Monday’s parade would go forward regardless of the climate.

It appeared to nonetheless be on, nonetheless, till Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency Sunday night and parade organizers made the decision.

“Because of the Governor’s declaration of a State of Emergency this night in response to the damaging climate situations introduced on by the Nor’easter, together with excessive winds, heavy rain, and flooding in surrounding areas, we should cancel the 81st Annual Columbus Day Parade for the protection of all members and viewers,” the Columbus Residents Basis, which runs the parade, posted on Instagram.

This yr marked the primary time the parade was ever cancelled over climate since its debut in 1929, NBC New York reported, and the primary time because the 2020 pandemic it’s been cancelled in any respect.

However whereas Sunday evening introduced heavy rains to the realm, by Monday the worst of the climate was on the shoreline, town going through solely a dreary day of regular sprinkles and gusting winds — leaving some New Yorkers fuming that the present might have gone on.

“It’s barely raining!” one individual responded to the Instagram submit.

Participants marching in uniform at the Federation of Italian American Organizations 42nd Annual Columbus Day Parade. — This yr’s Columbus Day Parade would have been the 81st, nevertheless it was referred to as off over the unhealthy climate James Keivom

“Wait! @NYCMayor et al CANCELLED the #ColumbusDayParade as a result of it’s raining?!” one X consumer fumed, erroneously blaming town for the choice to cancel.

“What occurred to robust NYC? Wussy girlie males can’t deal with slightly rain?! The final Columbus Day parade earlier than Mamdani will get in? How might you be so wimpy? Develop a backbone NYC! #ColumbusDay2025,” they added.

The irate parade fan wasn’t the one one frightened about the way forward for Columbus Day in NYC — Mayor Eric Adams himself has expressed fears that it might come below hearth if Zohran Mamdani wins his race for Metropolis Corridor in November.

Mamdani has lengthy expressed his disdain for Christopher Columbus, notably flashing a statue of the Italian explorer — lengthy credited as one of many first Europeans to sail to the Americas — with the center finger in 2020 and writing “Take it down” in a 2020 X submit.

Many have been additionally irked that whereas the Columbus Day parade was cancelled, a “Gaza 5k” elevating funds for a Hamas-tied charity went forward in Brooklyn Sunday because the storm bore down on town — a race Mamdani ran in.

“Any remark in regards to the Gaza 5k that occurred but the Columbus Day parade was cancelled????” one offended consumer wrote, tagging Gov. Hochul and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY).