Toronto residents and visitors heading into the downtown core on Sunday should expect significant traffic disruptions as the city hosts both the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the 25th annual St. Patrick’s Day Race. The two events will trigger multiple road closures beginning early in the morning and continuing into the afternoon, affecting key downtown streets and several TTC bus routes.
The first closures begin at 8 a.m. as the St. Patrick’s Day Race takes place near Evergreen Brick Works. Bayview Avenue will be closed from Pottery Road to River Street, while Rosedale Valley Road will be shut down from Bayview Avenue to Park Road. These closures are expected to remain in place until at least 1 p.m., meaning drivers travelling through the eastern side of downtown Toronto could face detours for several hours.
The race schedule begins with the 1-kilometre Kids Race at 10 a.m., followed by the main events shortly after. Both the 5K and 10K races are set to start at 10:15 a.m., drawing participants and spectators into the area and increasing congestion along surrounding roads. City officials typically advise drivers to avoid the Brick Works area entirely during the race window due to limited access and event traffic control.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade route through downtown Toronto
Later in the day, attention shifts toward the downtown core where the St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place. The parade officially begins at noon at the intersection of Bloor Street West and St. George Street. From there, the procession will move east along Bloor Street before turning south onto Yonge Street. The parade will then continue along Yonge until it reaches its final destination at Sankofa Square at Dundas Street.
The route passes through some of the busiest parts of Toronto’s downtown, including areas close to major transit stations, shopping districts, and university buildings. As crowds gather to watch the event, police will implement rolling closures along the parade path to keep both spectators and participants safe.
Morning road closures near the University of Toronto
Several streets near the University of Toronto will close earlier in the day to prepare for the parade staging area. From 9 a.m. until approximately 12:30 p.m., the following roads will be closed:
- St. George Street from Bloor Street West to College Street
- Devonshire Place from Bloor Street West to Hoskin Avenue
- Sussex Avenue from Huron Street to St. George Street
- Harbord Street from Huron Street to St. George Street
- Hoskin Avenue from St. George Street to Queen’s Park Crescent West
- Ursula Franklin Street from Huron Street to St. George Street
These closures will mainly affect local traffic in the university district and nearby neighbourhoods. Drivers heading toward Queen’s Park, the Annex, or College Street may encounter detours as police restrict access around staging areas and parade preparation zones.
Major downtown streets closing during the parade
The most significant road closures begin once the parade starts moving through the city centre. From noon until about 3:30 p.m., two of Toronto’s most important traffic corridors will be shut down:
- Bloor Street West from Huron Street to Yonge Street
- Yonge Street from Bloor Street to Richmond Street
These closures will temporarily limit north-south and east-west movement across the downtown core. Drivers travelling across the city may need to reroute through alternate streets such as Bay Street, Church Street, or Spadina Avenue depending on their direction of travel.
Because Yonge Street is one of the busiest corridors in Toronto, the closure from Bloor to Richmond is expected to have the biggest impact on traffic. Visitors heading into the city for shopping, dining, or entertainment should plan extra travel time or consider public transit instead of driving.
TTC routes affected by parade closures
The road closures will also affect several TTC bus routes that normally run along the parade route or nearby streets. According to transit officials, diversions will impact the following routes:
- 13 Avenue Road
- 19 Bay
- 94 Wellesley
- 97 Yonge
- 506B Carlton
Passengers using these routes should expect temporary detours and possible stop changes throughout the day. Riders are encouraged to check live service updates through the TTC official website before leaving home.
Despite the bus diversions, the TTC confirmed there are no planned subway closures on Sunday. To help manage the large crowds expected for the parade, the transit agency will run extra trains on both Line 1 (Yonge-University) and Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth).
This additional subway service is intended to make it easier for residents and visitors to reach the parade route and travel home afterward without relying on affected surface routes.
Travel tips for Toronto residents on Sunday
City officials recommend planning ahead if you need to travel through downtown on Sunday. Drivers should expect heavier congestion around the parade route, particularly along Bloor Street and Yonge Street during the afternoon hours.
Those attending the parade are encouraged to use public transit, arrive early for better viewing spots, and be prepared for temporary road barriers and police traffic control around the event route.
Residents can also monitor traffic alerts and event notices through the City of Toronto website for updates on road closures, transit changes, and public safety announcements.
With a morning race at Evergreen Brick Works and one of the city’s largest cultural parades taking place later in the day, Sunday will bring a festive atmosphere to Toronto’s streets. At the same time, the combination of events means traffic conditions will remain unpredictable across much of the downtown core until late afternoon.
You may also like HSBC shares fall 2.15% as wealth management concerns weigh on sentiment.
Make Swikblog your go-to source on Google for reliable updates, smart insights, and daily trends.
