HRM release:
The Halifax Regional Municipality is advising residents to be prepared for significant crowds and traffic delays in Downtown Halifax for the Holiday Parade of Lights taking place on Saturday, Nov. 18 beginning at 6 p.m.
With thousands of spectators expected to line the parade route, residents are urged to plan their travel in advance and consider taking public transit to and from downtown Halifax, as parking will be limited and traffic is anticipated to be heavy.
Please note that this is a new parade route.
Parade participants will form up on Cogswell Street, between Robie Street and North Park Street (using both sides of the median and all facing the Harbour). Cogswell Street, between Robie Street and North Park Street, will be closed at 2 p.m. to allow for parade marshalling to begin.
The parade will travel clockwise around the North Park Street roundabout, and then continue down Ahern Avenue. The parade will then proceed along Bell Road, South Park Street, Spring Garden Road, Barrington Street, and ending on George Street. Parade participants will then disperse north, through Duke Street and Barrington Street.
The event will be traffic controlled and escorted by Halifax Regional Police. See here for more details of the new parade route.
Brenton Street, Dresden Row, and Birmingham Street will each act as two-way streets between Clyde Street and Artillery Place during the parade. All streets leading into the parade route will be closed starting at 4:30 p.m.
Halifax Transit
Halifax Transit will be offering free Alderney Ferry service from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Alderney Ferry will also be operating on a 15-minute schedule during that time.
In lieu of fares for the Alderney Ferry, passengers are encouraged to donate money or non-perishable food items to the Parker Street Food Bank. Volunteers from the Parker Street Food Bank will be at the Alderney Ferry Terminal to collect donations.
Any Halifax Transit buses servicing the parade route will be on detour beginning at 5:30 p.m. For more information, see the Halifax Transit Service Disruptions webpage.
Motorists should expect delays and are asked to use alternative routes whenever possible.