Winnipeg is preparing for a bustling weekend as multiple street closures will take effect for the Santa Claus Parade and the Grey Cup Festival. These celebrations are expected to attract large crowds, necessitating careful planning around downtown traffic.
Street Closures for Santa Parade
The annual Santa Claus Parade will take place on Saturday. To facilitate the event, several key streets will be closed starting at 11 a.m.
- Portage Avenue: Closed in both directions from St. Mary Ave. to Main St.
- Main St: Southbound closure between McDermot Ave. and York Ave.
- Portage Ave: Eastbound from Westbrook St. to Main St.
- St. Mary Ave: Westbound from Edmonton St. to Memorial Blvd.
- York Ave: Eastbound from Colony St. to Memorial.
- Osborne St: North/Memorial/Colony from Broadway to Ellice Ave.
These closures will remain in effect until 10 p.m. on Saturday. Additionally, northbound Main St. will close briefly in the afternoon to allow the parade to cross.
Access Limitations
Residents and visitors should be aware of limited access to various parking lots and street traffic. Specifically affected streets include:
- Fort St. from Graham Ave. to Portage
- Garry, Donald, and Carlton streets from Ellice to Portage
- Smith, Hargrave, and Edmonton streets from St. Mary to Portage
- Kennedy and Vaughan streets from Portage to Graham
Grey Cup Festival Updates
The Grey Cup Festival has already commenced, affecting downtown routes and parking. Key street closures involved in the festival include:
- York Ave: Closed eastbound between Edmonton and Carlton St. until Sunday at 9 a.m.
- Young St: Closed from Portage to Ellice until Sunday at 9 a.m.
- Spence St: Closed from Portage to Ellice until Monday at 8 a.m.
The Santa Claus Parade will start at 5 p.m. on Saturday, with associated block parties kicking off at 4 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to plan ahead for parking and traffic conditions.
For more detailed information regarding road closures, consult the City of Winnipeg’s online lane closures map.
