Montreal’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade to return March 20
Posted February 28, 2022 9:41 am.
Montreal’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade returns, after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.
The 198th parade will be held March 20 at 9:30 a.m. (note the change to the usual 12 p.m. start time).
With normally months to prepare, Kevin Tracey, of the The United Irish Societies of Montreal, says they now only have three weeks to get things ready and it will be challenging.
“We will be smaller this year, but we will have twice the excitement and enthusiasm. The downsized parade will consist mainly of the Irish community walking together (roughly 500 participants in the parade – normally 3,000-4,000) – no floats and no commercial units,” explained Tracey in a press release. “There will be some bands and some other things that will be fun for the kids. At this time, the health and safety of the Montreal community are still our greatest priority.”
They are asking parade goers to think of safety first and spread out down the parade route, which will be on Sainte-Catherine street from Lambert-Closse (start) to Union (end). Organizers say this will allow for the crowd to have more space to socially distance and watch the parade.
MORE: St. Patrick’s Day Parade cancelled
Tracey adds that the Health Ministry still reserves the right to cancel the parade if the COVID-19 situation changes from now until March 20.
For more and future updates on the parade: montrealirishparade.com
