Thousands March In Annual Celebrate Israel Parade On Fifth Avenue

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Israeli pride was on parade Sunday in Manhattan.

Thousands marched up Fifth Avenue during the 51st annual Celebrate Israel Parade.

The event featured musicians, bands and politicians.

David and Florence Simhon, of Israel, told WCBS 880's Ginny Kosola they attend the parade every year.

"We never miss it," David said. "It's beautiful."

"It's just really wonderful to see the support of New Yorkers and bringing people together," said paradegoer Audrey Newman, of Great Neck.

Gloria Grossman, of Forest Hills, is the school secretary at Yeshiva Central Queens and said the students love the parade.

"They practice for the parade and we have beautiful shirts made up by the art department and signs and the kids work very hard to get the parade together and they're very excited to come," she said.

This year, the celebration continued after the parade with a Celebrate Israel Festival at Pier 94, CBS2 reported.