Businesses, police and partygoers prepare for St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Waterloo

A large number of post-secondary students are expected to take part in a massive unsanctioned street party this weekend to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in the City of Waterloo.

Many are expected to also visit local bars and restaurants in the Uptown Waterloo area as a part of their celebration.

Jeyas Balaskanthan is the Executive the Director of Uptown Waterloo BIA, an organization that is focused on the economic development of businesses in the Uptown Waterloo area.

He says safety is the biggest concern for local businesses, who are otherwise happy to be a stop for students taking part in the celebration.

"Students are our greater consumers on a regular basis," he said.

"The small businesses, brick and mortar businesses are still coming back from the pandemic and they have also faced a lot of different challenges such as paying back the federal [pandemic] loan ... So any business, any additional revenue helps everybody."

Balaskanthan is encouraging students to try out various other bars and restaurants across the city that may not be as crowded on St. Patrick's Day.

The City of Waterloo emailed CBC a statement mentioning its plans to deal with the safety concerns.

"There is an operational plan in place for March 17, led by WRPS with support from the City of Waterloo and other community partners," the statement said.

"We encourage anyone who is planning to celebrate that day to do so responsibly at home or one of the many pubs and restaurants in uptown and throughout Waterloo."