{"id":555088,"date":"2026-03-23T10:23:43","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T10:23:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/555088\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T10:23:43","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T10:23:43","slug":"photos-irish-spirit-keeps-spectators-warm-for-a-snowy-st-patricks-parade-in-downtown-montreal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/555088\/","title":{"rendered":"Photos: Irish spirit keeps spectators warm for a snowy St. Patrick’s Parade in downtown Montreal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Celtic melodies rang out across a snowy downtown Montreal Sunday as Canada\u2019s oldest St. Patrick\u2019s Parade<\/a> marched down de Maisonneuve Blvd. for its 201st edition.<\/p>\n

Falling this year on the third day of spring, the parade took place against a decidedly wintry backdrop, with snow falling throughout the midday event.<\/p>\n

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United Irish Societies of Montreal president Lori Morrison, left, Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada and parade grand marshal Gary McKeown kick off the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Irishman of the Year Mike Kennedy marches in the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

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A spectator braves the steady snowfall to watch the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Kilt-clad bagpipers and drummers seemed unfussed as their bare legs were left exposed to the biting cold. Environment Canada recorded a -9 C wind chill, and some people speculated the weather had dampened turnout.<\/p>\n

\u201cYesterday would have been a better day,\u201d with its clear skies and sunny weather, said Pamela Wallace, a Montrealer who said she comes out to the parade every year to celebrate her Irish heritage.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m missing my blanket,\u201d said Wallace, who, with her lawn chair and green clothing, was otherwise well equipped for the festivities.<\/p>\n

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The Black Watch band takes part in the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Members of Montreal\u2019s Jamaican community are Irish for the day as they take part in the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

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A spectator braves the steady snowfall to watch the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

While some told The Gazette there were fewer spectators than in years past, paradegoers were certainly not in short supply. Spectators lined the route in the hundreds, cheering as participants marched by.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for coming in the snow,\u201d one waving participant told the spectators along the route.<\/p>\n

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The Bernadette Short dancers take part in the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

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A member of the SPCA team brings a friend along for the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Equipped with green beer, spectators offer cheers from a balcony as they watch the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Paradegoers pointed in amazement when the characteristic giant statues were wheeled down the boulevard. Others danced along to the tunes carried by pipers, marching bands and music-blaring floats.<\/p>\n

The Royal West Academy Honour Band played a rendition of What Will We Do With a Drunken Sailor. The CN Rail float played boppier tunes through its loudspeakers, including Waka Waka by Shakira.<\/p>\n

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The Ottawa Caledonian Pipes and Drums dress for the occasion as they take part in the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

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The RCMP Pipes and Drums take part in the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

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A spectator braves the steady snowfall to watch the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

The 92 participating groups marched for well over an hour, concluding the parade after 1:30 p.m. Many participants and spectators commuted home by public transit, making for m\u00e9tro cars awash with green.<\/p>\n

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Firefighters drive a 1946 fire truck during the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Members of Montreal\u2019s Chinese community take part in the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Grand marshal Gary McKeown marches in the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Firefighters walk in front of a 1946 fire truck during the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

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The Black Watch band takes part in the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

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A giant St. Patrick makes his way through the snowy streets during the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada waves to the crowd during the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Spectators brave the steady snowfall as they cheer the start of the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Spectators brave the steady snowfall to watch the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"<\/p>\n

The Ottawa Caledonian Pipes and Drums dress for the occasion as they take part in the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"<\/p>\n

Participants dance in the snow during the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

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The Canadian military takes part in the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Firefighters take part in the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

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The Royal Canadian Navy band plays during the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

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A Shriners clown takes part in the St. Patrick\u2019s Parade in Montreal on Sunday, March 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

jawilson@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Celtic melodies rang out across a snowy downtown Montreal Sunday as Canada\u2019s oldest St. Patrick\u2019s Parade marched down…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":555089,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[194292],"tags":[49,48,14881,2338,215212,215214,95981,215213],"class_list":["post-555088","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-montreal","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-environment-canada","tag-montreal","tag-pamela-wallace","tag-snowy-streets","tag-spectators","tag-st-patrick"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/555088","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=555088"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/555088\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/555089"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=555088"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=555088"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=555088"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}