Parade set to turn downtown green

The 16th annual Peterborough St. Patrick’s Day Parade is ready to turn the downtown green.

About 80 entries, including from 15 Irish families, seven marching bands and three or four dancing schools, will be among those celebrating the city’s Irish heritage on Sunday, according to parade committee chairman Tim Burke.

“It’s going to be the biggest and best parade yet,” he said.

Surnames including Doherty, Young, Devolin and Willis will be among the staple surnames that will make their way south on George Street from City Hall to Morrow Park, alongside members of a wide variety of community groups, starting at 2 p.m.

Before that, an Irish flag raising will take place at 1 p.m. at City Hall to celebrate Irish Week, with the third annual St. Patrick’s Day 5K run and walk in support of Five Counties Children’s Centre also taking place on George Street starting at 1:30 p.m. (walkers) and 1:40 p.m. (runners).

All that remains now is to keep an eye on the weather forecast, Burke said. A mix of sun and cloud with a high of just -8 C is forecast for Sunday, as of Wednesday, and Burke is hoping for more sunshine, no matter what the temperature is. “That’s all we need.”

He encouraged everyone to “get their green on” and come out to join the celebration, which is expected to include a crowd of more than 10,000 lining the street.

The city is reminding citizens that parking is prohibited along the route on George St. after noon in order to allow spectators a safe, unobstructed view.

For more information, call the parking division at 705-7427777 ext.2802 or visit www.peterborough.ca .... For more information on the parade, visit http://pspdp. com or email ptbostpatsparade@ gmail.com.