St. Patricks Day Parade and Walking Tours - Toronto Hotels .com

Whether of Irish descent or just an enthusiast of Irish culture, everyone can enjoy one of the world's largest St. Patrick's Day parades right in the heart of Toronto. Beginning at noon at Bloor and Devonshire (near the old Varsity Stadium in the Queen West neighborhood), the parade winds through the city all the way to Nathan Phillips Square (across from City Hall Downtown). The parade takes about an hour and a half to pass any given viewing point, and the route can easily be intercepted via several subway stations.

The parade's entertainment highlights include traditional Irish dancers, the Toronto Firefighters, Canadian Forces Massed Band, York Regional Pipes & Drums, and the York Lions Steel Band. A post-parade reception and awards ceremony occurs at the Arcadian Court in the Simpson Tower, just across from the park where the parade ends.

To enjoy a little more Irish cultural heritage, you can stop by St. Patrick's Church on McCaul Street just off Dundas (about five blocks west of Nathan Phillips Square). Built in 1861 for the Irish-Catholic community, the church features beautiful stained-glass windows and can be easily accessed from the St. Patrick subway station. Or take a guided St. Patrick's Day Walking Tour featuring Corktown (just north of the Distillery District), a cultural hub for many Toronto-Irish families who emigrated from County Cork.

URL: http://www.topatrick.com