Several downtown Hamilton streets blocked this weekend for festivals, Open Streets event

A cultural procession and a neighbourhood block party will close several streets to car traffic in Hamilton'sdowntown area this weekend.

On Friday eveningbetween 8 and 10:30 p.m., the Racalmutese community will hold one of the street processions that are a big part of its Festa Maria S.S. del Monte, in which a Virgin Mary statue is often paraded through the streets.

That event will follow a route starting at the Fratellanza Racalmutese Italian Club at 72 Murray St. W., and head to James Street, then Colbourne Street, to MacNab Street and end on Barton Street West at the Our Lady of All Souls Roman Catholic Church.

On Saturday and Sunday, Festa events will block off MacNab Street from Colbourne street to Barton Street, and Colbourne Street from James Street North to MacNab Street from noon to 11:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Sunday.

Sunday closures for block party, Open Streets

On Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the Festa will block off a procession route from Our Lady of All Souls church to James Street North, then south to Cannon Street, west to Bay Street, east on Colbourne Street and ending back at the church.

An afternoon procession will block streets from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, from the Racalmutese club on Murray Street east to James Street North, south to Barton Street, west to Park Street and back north to the club.

Further north, a section of Catharine Street in the North End will be closed Saturday afternoon and evening for a neighbourhood block party.

The closure goes from Simcoe Street to Ferrie Street, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Also on Sunday, the city's second Open Streets event takes place on King Street East.From10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the street will be closed to vehicles from John Street to Gage Avenue, allow people to walk and cycle along the road.