Gold Cup Parade changing its traditional route

The Gold Cup Parade in Charlottetown is changing its traditional route this summer.

The changes are meant to mitigate traffic and improve access to Charlottetown's downtown core, a parade organizer said Friday.

"We made some improvements to allow for better flow throughout the city," said Derek Tweel.

The first half of the parade route will remain the same: starting by Queen Charlotte Intermediate School and heading south on North River Road, turning left on Brighton Road, continuing on Euston Street, turning right on Great George Street and right again on Grafton Street.

That's when the new changes begin: rather than turning left on Queen Street and continuing on Water Street to Prince Street, the parade will travel straight on Grafton Street. It will then turn right on Rochford Street, then left on Fitzroy Street to conclude.

The changes also allow organizers to centralize where floats are dismantled, Tweel said. Inprevious years, they were dismantled in several different places.

"It's easier for everybody," Tweel said. "It allows people in the city to get around the city."

About 75 floats are participating in this year's parade, he said. Thetheme is"Island Summer."

The RCMP Musical Ride will be there, Tweel said.

"When you see that contingent of RCMP coming down the parade route, it's going to give everybody chills," he said.

"Sometimes in a crazy world, this is one time when the community gets together and just has a great time."

Two medalists from the 2023 Canada Winter Games hosted by P.E.I. will marshal the parade:Arden Hopkin and Lucas Macdonald.

The parade will be held at 10 a.m. on Aug.18. The entire route will close to traffic at 9 a.m.

North River Road, between Belvedere Avenue and McGill Avenue, and Kirkwood Drive, between Trafalgar Street and North River Road, will also close to traffic at 7 a.m.

Islanders can check the parade's website for more details.