Organizers hope Winnipeg’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade continues to grow

There were smiles on the faces of St. Patrick’s Day Parade participants in Winnipeg Saturday despite the cold.

The Irish Association of Manitoba held its annual parade for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s great that we have a hundred or more people out to see us and join us in the parade today,” said Joanne Small, the association’s executive vice-president. “Hopefully, as the years go on, it gets bigger, as it’s the first year since COVID-19.”

There was a sea of green Saturday as members of the Irish community – and those who are Irish for the day – took to the streets.

The parade saw participants travel from the Irish Association of Manitoba on Erin Street down Portage Avenue and back.

It featured its fair share of four-leaf clovers, leprechauns and those dressed from head to toe in green.

Small says it’s important the community came together.

“It’s great to see that people are out to join us. Young and old. Some of us in between.”

The parade started in 2012 and has been going strong – except for the pandemic-related hiatus.

Parade founder Margaret Gannon says it’s great to see the tradition continue.

“Originally we thought it would be like it would be a silly sort of one off,” she said.

“A friend of mine and I, we made this ridiculous huge leprechaun and strapped it to my wagon and we figured, well you there you go, you got a parade, you got a wagon – let’s go.”

She says the growth of the parade, albeit a little bit small in 2023 likely due to frigid temperatures, says something about the city.

“I think it says something says something about the strength of the community in Winnipeg,” said Gannon. “And the community in Winnipeg has always been incredibly supportive of each other and very welcoming and very jovial and fun.”

Organizers say they hope to see the parade expand in future years.