The spectacular Canal Parade is the highlight of the Amsterdam Pride celebrations and is watched by up to 350,000 people as it passes down the city's main canals each year. Advertisement Since its inception in 1995 the event has become ever more popular. With gaily-decorated flat-bottomed boats, barges and "floating clogs" ferrying costumed dancers and partygoers along Amsterdam's waterways, it's also hard to miss. The parade sets off from the Westerdok and goes along the Prinsengracht canal to the Amstel. It then goes past the Stadhuis and Muziektheater before finishing at the Oosterdok via Oude Schans. The best places to watch it from are the bridges over the Prinsengracht and the Amstel, or from the quaysides by the Muziektheater.

Every year, during the St. Patrick's Day parade in NYC, a section of 5th Avenue on 59th Street is designated just for protesters. They call it the Protest Corral. Why would anyone have anything bad to say about Irish Day in New York? Well, they seem to have some valid reasons...