The Puerto Rican day parade is definitely one of the most exhuberant in New York City. If you turn out you can expect all of the following: vast quantities of alchohol, food stands, every politician in the city, beauty queens in bikinis, men draping themselves in the Puerto Rican flag, and thousands of police protecting visitors in Central Park from a repeat of 2001's mass wilding.
The parade starts at 11AM and goes on to 6PM after which the celebrations are moved to the bars. It runs along Fifth Avenue from 44th to 86th Street the best place to stand if you actually want to get a shot at a view is at the tail end up in the 80s where the crowds can thin a little. Although with 3 million spectators in attendence it's going to be pretty insane whereever you are.
