Whether or not you hail from the Emerald Isle, you are welcome to join in the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, one of the region’s most popular traditions. And there’s no better place to do so than in the town of Hudson!
This year's St. Paddy’s Day festivities organized by the Soulanges Irish Society will run from March 8 to 16, including, of course, the popular St. Patrick’s Day parade!
Hudson's iconic parade
Hudson’s St. Patrick’s Day parade is one of the region’s iconic events. Past parades in this small community of 6,000 people have drawn more than 15,000 spectators along Hudson’s Main Road to enjoy Irish dancers, pipers, and stunning floats.
On March 16, starting at 1 p.m., everyone is invited to proudly don some Irish tartan or add a splash of green to their outfit and join the celebrations on Main Road in Hudson to experience the unique, festive atmosphere that makes this parade a not-to-be-missed event of the season! For more details on the parade route and parking, visit the Town of Hudson's website.
After the parade, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., all are welcome in a free family party at Hudson's Community Centre where there will be a colouring station, Irish music, hot beverages and the possibility to have your photo taken with the Queen of the parade!
Live shows throughout the week
Enjoy live music at the Bar Château du Lac and at the Cardinal Microbrewery all week long. Check out their program on their respective websites and Facebook pages!
On March 14, head over to Embers restaurant for a live music dinner, featuring the Ditchflowers, Tim Walsh and Stewart Burrows (reservations required).
For the complete program, visit the Soulanges Irish Society’s website.
Raise a glass to the occasion: local brews and cocktails
In 2023, Cardinal Microbrewery has launched a new beer concocted in honour of the Hudson parade, the Craic Irish Red Ale. The brewers drew inspiration from a technique dating back to the early 1700s, in the town of Kilkenny, Ireland, to give the beer its distinctive colour. Back again this year, part of the proceeds from the sale of this local beer will go to the Soulanges Irish Society to “help keep the fun going,” to quote the microbrewery! Don’t miss your chance to taste it!
On its end, the Alibi Lounge in Hudson offers you 3 cocktails specially crafted for the occasion, namely the Hidden Gem, the Maggie Did It, and the Irish Julep... all green, obviously! When you order one of these cocktails, $1 will be donated to the Soulanges Irish Society. Another dollar will also be deposited into Alibi's pot of gold, and you'll receive a golden token that could potentially win you this pot of gold in the draw on March 17th!
Sláinte!
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