Vancouver St. Patrick’s Day celebrations back after two years

This year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in B.C. are promising to the biggest we have seen since 2019.

The vaccine passport remains in place, but most of the province’s other COVID-19 restrictions have lifted, with capacity limits, mask mandates, and other measures on bars and restaurants gone.

In 2020, Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart issued a last-minute public health order banning downtown bars and restaurants from opening on one of the industry’s busiest days.

A year later, celebrations could be held, but gathering restrictions were in place, limiting group sizes, dancing, and preventing mingling between tables. The mask mandate was also in place.

Bars and restaurants were also not allowed to serve alcohol after 8 p.m.

Related Articles:

• Canada’s St. Patrick’s Day festivals are back after pandemic hiatus

• Vancouver Coastal, Fraser Health report no new COVID cases Wednesday

• B.C. reviewing COVID response, asks for public input

Vancouver’s Granville Entertainment District has seen hundreds of people head to the area pre-pandemic for parties, and bars and nightclubs have taken to social media to welcome people back.

St. Patrick’s Day will be the first big event the province has seen since the restrictions on gatherings were lifted last week, although only vaccinated revelers will be able to enter as the B.C. Vaccine Card remains required until April 8.

While many are set to drink a green beer at an Irish pub, there are several events being held on Friday and Saturday night as well.

E-Comm is gearing up for a high number of calls and is urging everyone to reach out to the proper authorities for noise complaints, instead of calling 9-1-1.

#StPatricksDay is here and we are reminding everyone to celebrate safely! To report a noise complaint in #YVR, please call 3-1-1 or use the VanConnect app. For everywhere else in #BC, contact your local bylaw office or non-emergency line. #911BC pic.twitter.com/MeHrp8dD24

— E-Comm 9-1-1 (@EComm911_info) March 17, 2022

Plus, for family-friendly celebrations, Celtic Fest Vancouver is bringing back its Irish dancers after a two-year hiatus to the Vancouver Art Gallery. It will also have games and activities for kids all weekend long.

As St. Patrick’s Day is based in religion, many Irish Catholics are set to also mark the holiday in church.

The provinces’ rules on worship settings were lifted, allowing gatherings of any size, and a proof-of-vaccine is no longer mandatory.

While the province’s mask order is also gone, businesses may still require it, and B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has urged people to be respectful of everyone’s comfort level as the province relaxes COVID-19 health measures.