During the Gion Festival, the street is the last parade route taken by Yamahoko, Gion Festival floats: all floats carried west along Oike-dori Street turn south along Shinmachi-dori Street and return to their own hokocho (towns with hoko, float).
祇園祭で、御池通を西に進む山鉾が新町通で下がり、それぞれの鉾町に帰っていく、巡行の最後の経路にあたっている。