A crowd of up to 200,000 people is expected to gather this weekend for Mississauga’s longest-running parade.

The Khalsa Day Parade will take place on Sunday, May 3, beginning in Malton and travelling approximately 10 kilometres before concluding in the Etobicoke area of Toronto.

The parade is part of Vaisakhi, a significant celebration marking the birth of the Sikh faith and the start of the Sikh New Year.

While the Mississauga parade officially began in 2000, its roots in the community go back even further, and it continues to draw large crowds each year. It is a separate event from the Toronto Khalsa Day Parade, which was held last weekend.

Ceremonies will begin at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Malton and conclude at the Sikh Spiritual Centre Toronto in Etobicoke. This year’s route has been adjusted to include a turn onto Darcel Avenue.

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The parade is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. and is expected to wrap up around 5 p.m.

Organizers say the Khalsa Day celebration is an opportunity to share Sikh culture and faith with the broader community, while also helping preserve traditions for future generations.

“Canada is a multicultural country and we want to show Canadians what Sikhism is all about,” an organizing committee member said in a past statement. “This celebration is a good example of the Sikh religion, and we need to continue it so we can be good role models for the younger generation.”

Participants are expected to come from across Ontario for the parade.