Irish Canadians permeate the cultural fabric of Canada. According to 2021 census data, 4.4 million Canadians claim Irish heritage. In Ontario, the Ottawa Valley was a popular settling ground before many moved west and north throughout the province. Thanks to the Irish diaspora in our vast country, there are place names, significant people (both famous and infamous), and celebrations that are still a large part of everyday life. It is also why there are so many fun Irish events in Ontario throughout March and around the year. Read on for a living list of St. Paddy’s parades, film festivals, musical events, and more!
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Top Irish Events in Ontario to Attend in March
Irish Real Life Festival (Waterloo Region)
Since March 2015, the Irish Real Life Festival has shared the depth and variety with which Irish culture exists. The first-generation Irish-Canadian founder, Sue Nally, wanted to expand the discussion around what it truly means to be Irish – and to leave the drunken stereotypes behind. With a week-long celebration prior to St. Patrick’s Day that includes music, film, theatre, dance, literature, visual arts, food, comedy, and language, the family-friendly event welcomes everyone to participate.
I’ve attended this fantastic Irish festival since before the pandemic and have been delighted to witness its growth. In addition to the week-long programming, there are also monthly cèilidh or céilí (traditional called group dances), cultural celebrations like St. Brigid’s Day / Imbolc, and guest speaker/musician events. Some of my favourite events have been the movie screenings of The Camino Voyage and Good Vibrations, and a workshop with certified genealogist Melanie McLennan.
Kiwanis Celtic Cabaret (Waterloo Region)
To wrap up a month of Irish celebration, the Kitchener Kiwanis club is hosting a Celtic Cabaret on Sunday, March 29th from 5pm – 8pm in support of Food4Kids Waterloo Region. Enjoy a comedy show, Irish fiddle music and dancing, and more. If you’ve never been to the Jazz Room before, you’re also in for a treat with the historic venue!
Toronto Irish Film Festival (Toronto)
The Toronto Irish Film Festival (TIRFF) is a public audience film festival featuring documentaries, short films, and feature-length stories. With a mix of Irish-Canadian and Irish filmmakers, it’s thanks to founder John Galway and his team that this passion project has continued for 15 years. TIRFF is hosted at the TIFF Lightbox on 350 King Street West. Individual and festival pass tickets go on sale in early March. After screenings, head downstairs to the Luma restaurant or the nearby pub, Quinn’s.
Toronto Guinness SPD (Toronto)
Toronto’s largest St. Patrick’s Day party is on Saturday, March 14th, 2026. Get ready for an all-day bonanza with live bands, Irish dancers, games, a pancake breakfast, and photo booths to capture the memories. There will be 3 outdoor patios with interactive games and activations, Guinness flowing from the bar, and a multi-room event centre with DJs, live bands, and a beer hall. It’s best to take public transit, carpool, or use rideshares to get to the venue, Rebel Nightclub, on 11 Polson Street. Tickets can be purchased on their website.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Ottawa)
Hosted by the Irish Society of the National Capital Region, the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Ottawa is a festive family affair. Starting at the Supreme Court of Canada, and winding along Wellington Street, up Sussex Drive, the parade finishes in the famous ByWard Market neighbourhood. Find free parking at St. Patrick’s Basilica on Gloucester Street, as well as at the Supreme Court of Canada. The parade starts at 12 noon on Saturday, March 7th, 2026 and ends around 1:30pm.
Also mark your calendars for other events they host, such as the week-long Ottawa Irish Festival and Irish breakfast meetups at Heart and Crown in Barrhaven.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Peterborough)
The annual Peterborough St. Patrick’s Day Parade is happening on Sunday, March 15th at 2pm. If you want to get there early, there will be a flag raising at City Hall at 11am as well. With prizes for the “Best Family”, “Best Tribute to Ireland”, “Best Band”, and so on, everyone will be out in their finest green.
Niagara Irish Festival (Niagara Falls)
The Niagara Irish Festival, known as “the best little Irish music festival in North America”, is a summer festival that celebrates Irish culture and musicians from the Niagara region. A group of Irish folk musicians have been organizing this event for years. They also host trad(itional) music sessions throughout the year. Don’t forget to see the Falls all lit up in green!
St. Patrick’s Day Irish Celebrations (London)
The London Irish Canadian Cultural Society has several events happening on Saturday, March 14th. There’s a pub session with sing-alongs, a harpist performance, busking and folk songs, a ceilidh, vendors selling Irish wares, and more. Head to 1 Cove Road starting at noon and join in the festivities until the late hours of the day. Also check out the London Irish Folk Club website for musical events throughout the year.
The Irish Rovers in Concert (Sault Ste. Marie)
On March 14th at 7pm, the legendary Irish Rovers band will take to the stage at the Sault Community Theatre Centre. Tickets are $63 for a student and $77 for an adult and can be purchased online or at the Sault CTC Box Office in Station Mall.
Celtic Roots: A Celebration of Irish & Celtic Music (Mississauga)
In Mississauga, celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by singing along to all the Irish classics. Think Celtic Women, the Irish Rovers, the Dubliners, the Chieftains, and more. The Celtic Roots festival started in 2016 and features award-winning musicians, championship Irish dancers, and talented storytellers. Kids under 10 are free and seniors receive a 10% discount.
St. Patrick’s Extravaganza (Guelph)
The Guelph Celtic Orchestra is hosting their annual St. Patrick’s Extravaganza on Sunday, March 15th at the Hespeler Canadian Legion. They’ll wow the crowd with upbeat jigs and reels, as well as tug at nostalgic heartstrings with slower pieces. After the concert, stick around and join the musicians for a ceilidh until 5pm.
Year-Round Irish Events in Ontario
Goderich Celtic Roots Festival and College (Goderich)
The Celtic Roots Festival and College has been celebrating Irish music, art, and community in Goderich since 1993. The Celtic College offers 4 days of beginner to advanced courses held each day from 9am until 10:20am to grow your skills. Classes are taught by the same people who will perform at the festival and include skills like beginner fiddle tunes, Ontario step dancing, illuminated letters, advanced Irish harp technique, Cape Breton fiddle tunes, and more. In the evenings, teachers hold outdoor concerts and local venues host ceilidh dances and trad sessions. At the end of the 4-day course, everyone is invited to perform in the Friday Showcase at the Festival Grounds in Lions Harbour Park.
There’s also a Celtic Kids Day Camp for ages 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12 years-old that runs from Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm. They also have a showcase at the end of the week where families are welcome to come and cheer on their performances. Classes for the kids include a variety of musical instruments (fiddle, harp, tin whistle, percussion, guitar), dance, storytelling, and arts and crafts. Some instruments are provided. Bonus news for the big families – discounts are available if you have 4 or more families attending the Kids Camp or the Celtic College!
Irish Film Festival (Ottawa)
The annual 3-day Irish Film Festival Ottawa was founded in March of 2014. It’s a non-profit organization that celebrates Ireland’s history, culture, language, and comedy through film. In addition to screenings each April, there are dance and music performances to enjoy. The film festival’s goal is to both share Irish culture with the Ottawa community but to also inspire and develop Ottawa’s local film-makers.
Learn Irish with Gaeltacht an Oileáin Úir (Tamworth)
Curious to learn how to speak Irish (Gaeilge)? There’s a gaeltacht (Irish speaking region) north of Belleville and Kingston that welcomes learners of all skills. Gaeltacht an Oileáin Úir (The North American Gaeltacht) holds online and in-person lessons and language camps throughout the year. Started in 1994 by Séamus Mac Concharraige, the aim was to have a space for Irish speakers to practice and celebrate the culture in North America. The site in Tamworth opened in 2007.
Planning a Visit to Ireland? Check Out These Blog Posts.
Whether you’re looking for the classic Dublin visit, heading to the coast to explore Howth, veering off the usual tourist trail to check out Kildare, or attending Europe’s largest matchmaking festival, there’s plenty to check out on your trip to Ireland.
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