PHOTOS: St. Patrick's Day draws COVID-weary revellers

With two years between unrestricted St. Patrick’s Day parties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Windsorites were in a joyful mood to celebrate a tradition that brought a distinct feeling of normalcy at WindsorEats new home on Erie Street.

People lined up at noon waiting for the gates to open to pack the new facility and crowds of 200 remained throughout the day to hoist beers, nibble goodies and take in the live music.

“It’s celebrating an Irish holiday in the middle of Little Italy, eating Mexican food and drinking Canadian beer,” said WindsorEats co-owner Adriano Ciotoli, who was hosting the first event at the organization’s new facility.

“That’s perfectly Canadian, bringing all our different cultures together.”

Aided by the warm temperatures, Ciotoli said people were eager to socialize after the lockdowns and restrictions of the past two years. For bars and restaurants, St. Patrick’s Day is one of the busiest days of the year and brings a much welcomed financial injection.

“You can feel the good vibes emanating from folks,” Ciotoli said. “This is something everyone needed after two years.

“I’m just hoping businesses around the city are enjoying the same thing we have seen. One day isn’t a silver bullet to cure all after two years, but it’s a good first step.”