Sun expected to shine for Montreal's 196th St. Patrick's Parade
The sun is expected to be out for Sunday’s St. Patrick’s Parade, but you’ll still need to dress warmly if you plan on being among the 300,000 people enjoying the festivities in downtown Montreal.
According to Environment Canada, there will be a high of -2 C, but it will likely feel much colder with a wind chill of -13.
The 196th St. Patrick’s Parade is back on Ste-Catherine St. this year after being held on de Maisonneuve Blvd. last year.
The parade begins at noon at the corner of Fort St., and will end approximately three hours later at Metcalfe St. The course has been cut short because of the construction work in the area.
The route will be 1.2 kilometres, instead of the 1.7 kilometres it was when it ended at Phillips Square, or the 2.1 kilometres when it ended at St-Urbain St.
More than 30 floats and 2,500 extras will take part. The parade will also include marching bands from Ontario, some of which are participating for the first time: the Kingston Police Pipe Band, Queen’s University’s band and the only Irish Regiment in Canada, based in Sudbury.
Roughly 300 volunteers and cadets will provide security throughout the day.
Ken Quinn, a spokesperson for the United Irish Societies of Montreal, which organizes the parade, has recommended people use public transit to get downtown, particularly because of certain Turcot closures on Sunday.
In addition to Ste-Catherine St., parts of Fort, Metcalfe, de la Cathédrale and Peel Sts. will be closed to leave space for setting up and tearing down parade floats. René-Lévesque Blvd. westbound will also be closed to traffic for setup.
Pincourt Sparks members Layla Zaghlool (from left) and Alexis Dwyer practice their horn-blowing Saturday at the St. Patrick’s Parade in Hudson.
Mayor Valérie Plante kicked off the festivities earlier this week by presenting a $35,000 cheque to parade organizers.
Plante hailed the event for bringing together Montrealers of all origins and ages. She noted the Irish are one of Montreal’s founding peoples, making March 17 “an important day.”