Bank Street will host the St. Patrick’s Day parade

With St. Patrick’s Day less than a week away, the Irish Society of the National Capital Region is preparing for a massive celebration of all things green, this Saturday.

The St. Patrick’s Parade and Grand Irish Party promises to be an event for families to enjoy, from the marching bands in the parade to an after-party held at the Civic Centre and Lansdowne Park. The party will feature music, dancing and entertainment from the Mountain Tay Band, Robin Averill and Sue Fay Healy Irish Dancers.

This year's host charity, the Ottawa Food Bank, will be collecting financial and non-perishable food donations along the parade route and at the after-party.

The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at city hall, and will travel down Laurier Avenue West and Bank Street, ending at Lansdowne Park.

Laurier Avenue West will be closed between Nicholas Street and Elgin Street, between 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Queen Elizabeth Drive will be closed between Somerset Street West and Laurier Avenue West  between 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Laurier Avenue West will be closed between Elgin Street and Bank street during the parade, from 10:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Bank Street will be closed between Laurier Avenue West and Lansdowne Park from from 10:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Some side streets may also be affected by the parade.

The party is scheduled for 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets for the party are available at the door and will cost $25 for families, $10 for adults, $5 for teenagers and $3 for children.

For more information, visit http://www.irishsocietyncr.com/.