Halifax’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade cancelled due to ‘very low numbers’

The St. Patrick’s Day parade in Halifax has been cancelled for the second year in a row.

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Halifax, which was originally scheduled for March 15, has been cancelled due to lack of interest in entries.

“We’ve been struggling, honestly, the last couple of years. On the parade we made the decision, unfortunately, to cancel this year due to the very low numbers. We only got nine entries,” said Sue Uteck, the marshal of the Halifax St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

“I know March is a cold time of year here in Nova Scotia, but before we laid out further expenditures billboards, the beads, all of that stuff, we had to make the decision that the numbers don’t add up.”

The parade, which usually has a large turnout, would have been in its 14^th year in 2026.

“The attendance, once the parade route is known, we are lined on the streets. It was getting bigger and bigger, but the participants were getting smaller and smaller,” said Uteck.

This is the second year in a row the parade has been cancelled. Last year it came down to waiting on the municipality for their permits and this year there weren’t enough floats.

In past years, the parade would have 35 to 40 floats. The committee has tried to keep the route relatively short due to cold temperatures.

It was a tough decision for the committee of six to make last week, as they know this is a well-loved event.

“I think it was last week because we are now into February and the parade is five weeks out and a decision had to be made,” said Uteck. “We have to pay for policing, we have to pay for the rerouting of transit, so there are thousands of dollars involved.”

“St. Patrick’s Day, that week is an important time to say, we remember who we are, where we are from, and we have contributed to being here,” said Halifax historian Blair Beed.

Beed remembers the early days of the parade and is sad that it won’t be happening this year.

“The St. Patrick’s Church, their band established in 1847 and that, right away, they started marching up and down the streets because it was a way to say, we are here, we are different, we are proud,” said Beed.

He says about 40 per cent of the population of Halifax has an Irish connection. Their roots are seen throughout the city, through street signs, churches and pubs.

“I used to put a float in with the St. Patrick’s Church, and we would get together, and not everyone was Irish, some English, but it was a great chance to get out in public, walk and have fun,” said Beed.

A lot of time, money and planning goes into the parade each year. The committee is small and could use more hands on deck. They hope others will step in to help, especially the younger generation.

“Frankly, we need fresh blood within our committee. We are 12, 13, 14-year volunteers. We would like to see the youngsters of the city take over, those who really enjoy St. Patrick’s Day and can get this parade where it needs to be,” said Uteck.

The plan is for the parade to return next year, but the team says they need the public’s help to make it happen.

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