How Montreal’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade still marches on 200 years later

On March 16, 2025, Montreal’s streets will be awash in green for the 200th edition of the city’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade—an event that, with two centuries under its belt, has outlived empires, revolutions, and pandemics.

Organized by the entirely volunteer-run United Irish Societies of Montreal (UIS), the parade is expected to draw over 300,000 spectators to de Maisonneuve Boulevard, featuring more than 120 groups, 20 floats, and 5,000 participants.

But beyond the spectacle, this year’s parade is a landmark moment—a testament to resilience, cultural endurance, and Montreal’s unique blend of tradition and reinvention.

“All the history that I have in my family alone, and the history of the parade, and all the people I’ve met over the years organizing this thing… you feel like you’re being pushed with them. It’s amazing,” says Daniel Doyle Sr., the 2025 Grand Marshal.

"We're tapping into people's heritage in Montreal, or at least the things that their parents, aunts and uncles have told them," adds Kevin Tracey, UIS’s Immediate Past President.

A march through history

Montreal’s St. Patrick’s Parade dates back to 1824, when Michael O’Sullivan and members of the Hibernian Society decided to formally mark the day. Over the decades, it shifted hands among different Irish organizations, reflecting the changing tides of both Montreal and the Irish community itself. What began as a more solemn, nationalist event became, over time, a celebration of Irish identity that welcomed new generations and communities into its fold.

“I remember how we all lined up along the streets as a kid," recalls Doyle Sr., who grew up in Griffintown. "Those that walked in the parade were more serious at the time. I’m not saying it wasn’t fun, but it was more of a marching Irish parish thing."

"Now I think it’s more commercial, more fun. The ancestors would probably kick us in the ass for it,” he laughs.

The parade’s ability to adapt while staying rooted in tradition is key to its longevity. In recent decades, it has grown into a multicultural city-wide event, inviting groups from all backgrounds to take part, while also keeping its historic significance intact.

Not a party, but a community effort

For many, St. Patrick’s Day might conjure images of shamrocks, Guinness, and wearing a bunch of stuff bought from dollar stores for the occasion, but for the UIS, the event is something far more meaningful.

“We don’t promote the alcohol side of things at all,” says Tracey. “If we wanted sponsors, we could get them, but we don't want to do that... We want it to be a multicultural, family-oriented event. It's not a beer fest.”

This ethos carries through to the organizational structure itself. Unlike many of Montreal’s other major festivals, the parade runs on an entirely volunteer basis. The UIS, alongside sister organizations like the St. Patrick’s Society and Erin Sports Association, works tirelessly to ensure the event happens each year—without a single person drawing a salary.

“The budget we put down, for the amount of people that enjoy it during a month that’s pretty dry for activities in Montreal, is pretty damn amazing,” Tracey pointed out.

“We have 90 marshals, 25 chair people, and executives. No one’s getting a cent. The only thing we pay for is someone to maintain our website. So you’re talking like less than 150 people to put that parade down the street.”

That scale is staggering: 5,000 parade participants, 300,000 spectators, and a route stretching 2.2 kilometers—all managed by volunteers.

"If we get a sunny day? Holy crap, there's not gonna be room to walk," says Tracey.

A growing legacy

After COVID-19 forced a dramatic scaling down of the event (in 2022, the parade lasted just 11 minutes), the 200th edition signals a full-fledged return to form.

Participation numbers have rebounded—2023 saw 70 units, which jumped to 97 in 2024, and now 120 for the bicentennial. Even groups that had been sidelined by political or logistical challenges, like the Ukrainian associations, are returning in full force.

“The parade is back,” Doyle Sr. stated. “It was faltering for a number of years, but now… we go to other parades. We go to Quebec City. We go to Hudson. We helped Quebec City get built up again. More people are starting to see it’s fun—even volunteering.”

And it’s not just for those with Irish ancestry.

“When I walked down as president the first time two years ago, I was amazed at the number of people where there was no way they were Irish,” said Tracey.

“But they were all there, smiling and happy. Montreal is like that. It's Irish, of course, but it's a city event and the city is made up of about 30 different cultures, and they all come out and watch it. I'm just amazed at all the smiles on their faces."

This inclusivity is no accident. While certain ceremonial positions—like Grand Marshal—require Irish heritage, membership in the UIS is open to all.

A reminder of what makes Montreal the city it is today

With its history, community effort, and city-wide participation, the St. Patrick’s Parade remains one of the most uniquely Montreal events on the calendar. It’s a moment where winter-weary Montrealers, regardless of background, come together for a cultural tradition that has lasted two centuries.

As for Montreal’s Irish community, the parade is both a celebration and a responsibility—one that is passed down through generations, ensuring that the tradition continues.

Here's to another 200 years.