Shamrock Shuffle and Leprechaun Leap: Saint John, N.B., tees up St. Patrick’s Day

Canada’s most Irish city spent the weekend teeing up St. Patrick’s Day, with new and old traditions returning to Saint John, N.B.

The 33rd Annual Pete’s Pub Shamrock Shuffle brought out over 100 people to run, walk and wheel over a three kilometre stretch of the city’s Harbour Passage trail system on Sunday. Participants were encouraged to wear green and bring their dogs. Several participants also dressed their pets in St. Patrick’s Day colours.

All proceeds from this year’s $20 entrance fee will go to the local non-profit group RedHead Strays, a group that provides care for stray cats.

“We always have a very good turnout,” says Shamrock shuffle co-founder Peter Ferguson. “People are very generous in Saint John and it’s the great Irish spirit.”

Ferguson said locals like to get in the spirit and celebrate early.

Later on Sunday afternoon, the Leprechaun Leap, a more recent March tradition, returned to support of the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation. The event, in its third year, offered Irish themed specials and entertainment to participants across 17 pubs and bars in uptown Saint John.

On Saturday, the 36th Annual Irish Breakfast was held at O’Leary’s Pub, in support of L’Arche.

Saint John City Hall announced the large sign at Fort Howe will be lit in green, orange and white, representing the colours of the Irish flag, for St. Patrick’s Day on Tuesday.

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