There will be no St. Patrick’s Day parade in Vancouver this year.

It will be the first time in 13 years CelticFest hasn’t organized a parade for St. Patrick’s Day.

CelticFest told the CBC that frequent weather challenges and declining sponsorships over the years have led to the organization cancelling the 2017 edition.

“It really just comes down to the fact that we want it to be something that’s exciting, brings people downtown and is something people are going to remember,” CelticFest president Alan Cosgrave said.

Instead, CelticFest has organized a two-day street festival at Robson Square.

Musical acts, highland games, traditional and contemporary artists and a licensed area will be on offer on Friday and Saturday and other events will take place at theatres throughout Vancouver all this week.

Street festival events are on March 17th and 18th beginning at 11am.

Last modified: March 23, 2017

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