NYC Readies July 7 'Hometown Heroes Parade,' Mayor Says

NEW YORK CITY — A "Hometown Heroes" ticker tape parade is ready to wind through the Canyon of Heroes on July 7, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

De Blasio announced details about the long-promised parade honoring workers' fight against the coronavirus during a Friday appearance on WNYC's "Brian Lehrer Show."

He said the event starting July 7 at 11 a.m. will be a celebration of health care heroes, the first responders, essential workers, members of the media — "everyone who was there for us during COVID."

“This was the biggest crisis in the history of New York City,” he said. “These are the folks who were the heroes there every day, working people. They often don’t get the accolades they deserve here.”

The event is the second giant celebration marking the city returning to pre-pandemic normal announced by de Blasio this week.

An August concert in Central Park will be headlined by Paul Simon, Jennifer Hudson and Bruce Stringsteen, he announced Thursday.

The Hometown Heroes Parade was previously promised, but without a date.

De Blasio said the parade's Grand Marshal will be nurse Sandra Lindsay, the first person in the United States to receive a coronavirus vaccine. Lindsay will also at a City Hall ceremony hosted by Robin Roberts, the anchor of Good Morning America, he said.

The parade will be open to those who are vaccinated and unvaccinated, de Blasio said.

“The advice from our health care team is to wear a mask to protect everyone around you and obviously be aware of keeping distance as best you can,” he said. “But the fact is, this is outdoors.”