Everyone is Irish on St Patrick’s Day! This year, we have even more to celebrate with thanks to celebrating Montreal’s 200th St Patrick’s Parade. However, if you don’t wish to join the other spectators, there’s no reason to miss the festivities! Many other fun events are being held to celebrate. From parade details to other themed events, MTL365 is here to help you plan your fun-filled day.
Montreal’s 200th St Patrick’s Parade
History
Did you know the Montreal St Patrick’s Day Parade is the longest-running parade of its kind in Canada? The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in Montreal was organized by Michael O’Sullivan in 1824 and ran uninterrupted until 2019.
While the pandemic put a dent in continuing that streak, it wasn’t the first time it was cancelled. It had been cancelled in 1918, for various reasons. (Many say it was due to controversies over WWI conscription). Even then, Montrealers had paraded nonetheless.
The theme of this year’s parade will be “Emerald Connections: Celebrating 200 Years of Irish Heritage and Unity in Montreal”. The purpose is to promote Montreal’s multiculturalism and celebrate Irish heritage. It highlights the importance that the Irish place on inclusion and community.
What To Expect
This year, celebrate the 200th-anniversary edition of this iconic parade on Sunday, March 16th at noon! As always, the parade will consist of eye-catching floats, live music, and performers. Of course, an overflowing amount of Irish cheer is also to be expected.
Route
At noon, the parade begins at the corner of Fort Street and De Maisonneuve. It will go east until it reaches Jeanne-Mance, lasting for a total of 1.5 – 2.5 hours. We recommend securing a spot along its route about an hour in advance. This way, you see as much of the parade as possible.
How To Get There
Thanks to public transit and additional parking areas, there are many ways to join the parade route on de Maisonneuve.
Bus
As of 02-19-2025, the official STM website’s calendar of planned events has not been updated. All that is being said is that there’s “more to come”. However, they also say that some buses are being diverted and stops are temporarily cancelled.
We suggest checking the STM page regularly to see if there is updated information specific to the parade. For now, we encourage you to use their “plan your trip” feature. This will provide a basic idea of the most convenient route for you.
Metro
If you wish to take the metro, the nearest metro stations on the parade’s path are on Green Line 1. They include:
- Guy-Concordia
- Peel
- McGill (universally accessible)
- Place-des-Arts (universally accessible)
REM
If you’re coming from the South Shore, taking the REM is your best choice. It drops you off at Montreal’s Central Station. (That’s at the heart of the parade’s route!) The metro stations mentioned above will facilitate the rest of the journey to arrive at de Maisonneuve.
Parking
If you’ve chosen to drive downtown on parade day, be prepared for the heavy traffic! There will be several street closures with spectators taking over the area. However, there will also be underground parking spaces that contribute to the 50,000+ available spaces downtown.
This includes (but is not limited to):
Montreal Eaton Centre- 1801 McGill College Avenue
Place Ville Marie- 1 Place Ville Marie
Complexe Desjardins- 150 Sainte-Catherine West Street, entrance via Jeanne-Mance or Saint-Urbain Streets
Palais des Congrès- 1025 Chenneville Street, accessible via Viger Avenue
Place Bonaventure- 800 Gauchetière Street
Delta Hotels by Marriott Montreal- 475 Président-Kennedy Avenue
Safety
With the recent weather Montreal has been experiencing, wearing warm and comfortable clothes is encouraged.
We know it’s tempting to follow the floats but we must urge you not to do this. There is no set pathway to do so safely. Please, never cross the route’s streets during the parade. We want a safe and incident-free celebration so please be careful and remain aware of your surroundings.
For more information on the parade, please visit the United Irish Societies of Montreal Spectator Portal here. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
The Irish Famine in Montreal Walking Tour
On Saturday, March 15th from 1 PM to 3 PM, visit key sites associated with Black ’47; the year 75,000 Irish refugees fleeing the Famine landed on Montreal’s wharves. Hosted by Haunted Montreal / Montréal hanté, this event starts in front of Pointe-À-Callière at 350 Place Royale Montréal, QC.
The tour led by Donovan King will visit locations of hospitals, fever sheds, burial grounds and hospitals. Thus, bringing you closer to the history and the impact of the Irish Famine on Montreal in 1847. This walking tour supports the efforts toward creating a commemorative park on the gravesite of over 6000 Irish Famine Refugees. (Refunds are available up to 7 days before the event).
Ticket sales end on March 14, 2025, and spaces are limited so buy your tickets now while quantities last!
Lachine Legion St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
On Saturday, March 15th, from 4 PM to 11 PM, stop by the Lachine Legion at 3015 Rue Henri Dunant! You’ll be in for a treat with a night of music and delicious food.
The live entertainment will include Kate’s Kitchen, a Celtic folk band from Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. DJ Nitro will also be there to spin classic Irish favourites and party anthems. As if that’s not entertaining enough, the Bernadette Short School of Irish Dance will offer a performance. If you’ve never witnessed a show by talented Irish dancers, now is the time!
You can even enter the 2025 Amateur Chef Irish Stew Competition for a chance to win a cash grand prize. All you have to do is bring a large crock pot of your homemade Irish stew and a ladle. Set up begins at 4 p.m. sharp, with the judging commencing at 5 p.m. Once the winner is announced, everyone has a chance to try the entries and to vote for their favourite too!
Tickets
The price for a Group Ticket / Reserved Table is $15.00. (Ideal for 6 guests and includes a pitcher of draft beer to share). General admission for 1 is also $15.00. Entry to the stew competition is free with general admission. For tickets, click here.
Pub Events (18+)
Bars across Montreal are preparing for one of their biggest nights of the year. This is especially true for the city’s Irish pubs. Here are some of the best spots to celebrate St Patrick’s Day 2025. (Always bring your government-issued ID for proof of age).
Irish Pub Night
On Thursday, March 13th from 7 to 9 PM, visit the Victoria Hall Community Centre. Located at 4626 Sherbrooke Street West in Westmount, it’s your chance to visit a pop-up pub! (A cash bar with whiskey and Irish beers).
The Celtic trio Solstice will provide the night’s entertainment. Irish music consisting of violins, flutes, whistles, acoustic guitars, and vocals will make you feel like you’re celebrating in Ireland! Request more information at victoriahall@westmount.org or call 514 989-5226. You may also join the waitlist here.
McKibbin’s Irish Pub
With five locations, (Bishop, West Island, St. Laurent, Vaudreuil, Dix30) McKibbin’s Pub is always one of the top destinations to grab a St Patrick’s Day pint and bite to eat. Year-round, McKibbin’s offers a great environment to listen to live music by local bands. You can also cheer on your favourite sports team streamed on HD plasma and big-screen TVs. Enjoy a great time at your local McKibbin’s Irish Pub!
Each location will have different music lineups and menus. For this reason, we recommend visiting the official website and selecting the location closest to you for more details. They can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. (The linked Facebook page focuses on the Bishop location but shares general information too).
Hurley’s
Located at 1225 Crescent Street, Hurley’s is a popular spot for music lovers. It’s no wonder why- they feature live traditional music 7 nights a week. This is no different on St Patrick’s Day when the community comes together to celebrate.
They have 19 beers on tap, over 50 single malts, and 16 whiskeys! It’s the perfect spot to find a wide selection of ale. Their menu is equally impressive! With classic pub dishes such as an array of burger options, wings, poutine, sandwiches, beef stew, and much more.
To inquire about reservations or for more information, call 514-861-4111. You can also book your reservations online here.
St Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl
*Early Bird Tickets Are Now Available (Starting at $15)*
On March 14th, celebrate St. Paddy’s Day 2025 with exclusive access to several venues! Voted Montreal’s Best St Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl 3 years in a row, you’ll stop at some of the best bars in the area. This includes Sir Winston Churchill Pub, Le Warehouse, Maison Publique, McLean’s, Reggies, Jack Saloon Crescent, and Jet Nightclub. The event is limited to 500 attendees so grab your tickets ASAP- you don’t want to miss out!
The doors open at 8 PM at Sir Winston Churchill Pub (1455 Crescent St). However, participants are asked to pick up their wristbands by 10:30 PM. If the event is cancelled, all tickets will be refunded regardless of the reason!
Guests are asked to dress in their best green attire. It’s also advised to have a plan for getting to and from the venues. To get home safely, have a designated driver or use Uber, Lyft, or taxi services.
Tickets
As mentioned above, early bird tickets are now on sale but they’re going fast! Included in these tickets is no cover charge for all participating venues. And, an exclusive St. Patrick’s Day 2025 Wristband for Bar Crawl Access.
A bar crawl map will be provided for easy navigation. Live DJs will also be at Jet Nightclub to encourage closing the night out with a bang. Click here to see the available tickets.
Wristband Pickup
This event is an open-format Pub Crawl. Wristbands will be required for entry into all venues except for Sir Winston Churchill Pub. They can be picked up by scanning your ticket at Sir Winston Churchill Pub from 8:00 PM – 10:30 PM. You can stay at this venue until then or explore the other venues.
No refunds will be given if you arrive late or miss the wristband pick-up window! If you can’t make the check-in, have a friend pick up your wristband to ensure you don’t miss out.
2025 Crawl Map
Stop #1 – Pick-up Wristband
8:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Sir Winston Churchill Pub at 1455 Crescent St, Montreal, Quebec H3G 2B2
Please arrive at our first stop to scan your ticket and collect your wristband. You have from 8:00-10:30 to arrive and pick up your wristband for the night. You can stay at this venue until 10:30 PM or explore the other venues.
Stop #2 – Optional Venue
8:30 PM – 11:30 PM
Le Warehouse at 1446 Crescent St, Montreal, Quebec H3G 2B6
This is an optional stop where you can enjoy their Green Beers Special.
Stop #3 – Optional Venue
8:30 PM – 11:30 PM
Maison Publique McLean’s at 1420 Peel St, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1S8
The drink specials at this location include $10/pint of local and a shot of Irish Whiskey.
Stop #4 – The Final Stop
11:30 PM – 2:00 AM
For the final stop, everyone will meet at one of two places at 11:30 PM:
- Jack Saloon Crescent at 1445 Crescent St, or,
- Jet Nightclub at 2020 Crescent St.
Then, it will be time to have a blast at the massive final party!
*Note: The Digital Crawl Map is a digital map with all participating bars and their specials. A link from Eventbrite will be emailed to you a few days before the event. Be sure to keep your eyes out!
Happy St Patrick’s Day!
Ah, the luck of the Irish! We hope it extends to all of you at this time of year. And, that you have a fun and safe time celebrating no matter what you do. We can’t wait to see photos of everyone all dressed in green! If you know of other “can’t be missed” events happening around Montreal, let us know! Contact us here; we would love to get the word out! Happy St Patrick’s Day!
