There may not by much green on Ottawa's trees a few days before spring, but the streets are filled with the most Irish of hues for St. Patrick's Day Saturday.
Pubs were filled early in the day and will undoubtedly stay so through the night as people celebrate, regardless of their heritage.
"I like the spirit of St. Patrick's Day," said one person celebrating. "Everybody feels Irish on St. Patrick's Day, everyone just wants to have a good time."
"It's been packed all day long, people have been here since 11 a.m.," said a worker at the Aulde Dubliner in the Byward Market, the area where many are congregating.
Also early in the day was the St. Patrick's Day Run along Colonel By Drive, followed for some with a recovery beer.
"We may not have been the fastest runners out there but we were definitely the most spirited," said one participant.
Hundreds attended mass at St. Patrick's basilica, its namesake recognized as the patron saint of Ireland, with more celebrating a lunch at Saint Brigid's Centre.
"We get into a few drinks, we'll have a few dancers to entertain us," said Francis Healy at Saint Brigid's. "Just a big festival for the Irish itself."
"We're very proud of our heritage and we love to celebrate it," said Rosemary O'Brien.
The eastern Ontario community of Douglas, about 120 kilometres west of downtown Ottawa, got their celebration started early Friday night with their first ever St. Patrick's Day parade.
"The crowd here is great, everyone's happy, if you don't know anyone just come on in, sit down and have a beer with someone," said Jim Holmes at the Douglas Tavern.
The village, proud of its Irish heritage, buys up holiday-appropriate attire from a local store to benefit the local hospital every year.
With reports from CTV Ottawa's Claudia Cautillo and Stefanie Masotti
