Drivers heading through downtown Welland this weekend will need to plan around a series of road closures tied to the 2026 Rose Festival Parade.
Several city streets will be shut to through traffic on Sunday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting, according to the Niagara Daily News.
Which streets are closing
The closures will affect King Street between Division Street and East Main Street, and East Main Street between King Street and Hellems Avenue.
During those hours, officials say there will be no through access for residents, businesses or emergency services in the closed stretches. Anyone who needs to be inside the closure zone should plan to complete their travel outside the posted times.
Detour route
A detour will redirect traffic around the parade route using Crowland Avenue, Southworth Street, Humberstone Road, Townline Tunnel Road, Prince Charles Drive and Thorold Road.
Motorists who normally cut through the downtown core are advised to follow the posted detour signs rather than trying to shortcut through side streets.
What to expect on parade day
The closures run from mid-morning through late afternoon, meaning the downtown route will be blocked during the busiest part of the day for Sunday errands and travel.
The parade is a longstanding fixture of Welland's Rose Festival, which regularly draws crowds to the city's core. The closures are temporary, with through traffic expected to return to normal once the streets reopen at 4 p.m.
Because the closure is weather permitting, the schedule could shift if conditions don't co-operate. Drivers should watch for updated notices from the city before heading out on Sunday.
Local businesses along the parade route will be reachable on foot during the event, but anyone driving to the area should expect delays, limited parking and heavy pedestrian traffic near the closed streets.
