Times Square almost never gets closed for anything that is not a broadcast or a New Year's Eve setup, so a permitted walk straight down Broadway and Seventh between 42nd and 47th is an unusual thing to stand in the middle of. The walk is interfaith in character and moves through the plazas at a pace that lets you watch or cross it. If you are passing through midtown before an evening show, it is three hours of Times Square doing something other than selling a ticket.
What to expect
A walking procession down the closed Broadway and Seventh Avenue corridor with the Times Square plazas as the backdrop. The route is short enough to follow end to end on foot. Regular Times Square foot traffic continues around the closure, so the crowd is a mix of participants and passers-by.
Good to know
- Times Square-42nd St is served by the 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, W and S; 49th St and 50th St stations sit at the north end.
- The permitted route covers Broadway at 46th-47th and Seventh Avenue from 47th down to 42nd.
- Midtown traffic reroutes around the closure, so allow extra time for buses and cabs.
- The route is flat pavement with plaza seating along the way.
- Shade is scarce in the plazas; the side streets are cooler.
- The walk moves through the Times Square pedestrian plazas rather than around them.
Going? Keep it.
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Common questions
What streets are closed?
Broadway between West 47th and West 46th Street, and Seventh Avenue from West 47th Street down to West 42nd Street.
Do I have to register to walk?
The city permit is a street-closure authorization and lists no admission or registration. Check with the organizers for participation details.
How long is the closure?
Three hours in the early afternoon, per the NYPD permit.
