I'll never understand people who get all dressed up, and then content themselves with watching the parade from the sidelines. Or, even sillier, get all dressed up and then try to break into the parade midway.

You can't do it, it's not going to happen. HOWEVER, and this is the nice thing, you CAN get into the parade if you just go down to 6th ave and Canal street (or very near there) and enter the staging area. Not only is it very open to people in costumes, it's ONLY open to people in costumes.

So, having failed in my bid to get into the staging area, I headed up North and decamped by the parade exit, and just watched and took a few shots of the parade goers leaving. 'Twas a bit of fun.

I think I might get a costume next year. We'll see.