2024 South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade: Everything you need to know

BOSTON — Put on your green clothing! The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in South Boston is Sunday.

The parade will kick off at Broadway Station at 1 p.m. on Sunday and end in Andrew Square.

For decades, the historic parade has drawn thousands of people to South Boston to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and Irish heritage, as well as military service and the commemoration of Evacuation Day at Dorchester Heights, known for the evacuation of British troops from Boston on March 17, 1776, according to the parade’s website.

“Each year, the parade occurs on the Sunday closest to March 17th, with a commitment to keeping alive the tradition of honoring heritage and service,” the website states.

Bostonians were the first to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in North America, the website states. On March 17, 1737, Boston’s Irish community joined together to celebrate their homeland and to honor the memory of the Patron Saint of Ireland.

Boston’s early St. Patrick’s Day Parades happened downtown. In 1901, the parade moved to South Boston, a neighborhood with a robust Irish community.

Since 1948, the parade has been organized by the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, a nonprofit group of individuals elected from various South Boston veterans groups.

Below is information from the parade’s website on directions to the parade, the parade route, and the best places to watch the parade:

DIRECTIONS

If you’re traveling to South Boston for the parade, public transportation is your best bet. The parade begins at Broadway Station and ends at Andrew Station, both of which are on the Red Line. On the day of the parade, the MBTA typically runs rush hour service for the Red Line, with trains at least every 5 minutes, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The MBTA advises attendees that trains may bypass Broadway and/or Andrew Station if crowds there grow too large. Attendees are also advised to double-check the parade route prior to the parade to ensure the route hasn’t changed due to uncooperative weather conditions.

Buses will also cease stopping at Broadway or Andrew Stations at 9:45 a.m., in anticipation of the crowds. Routes 9, 10, 11, 16, and 47 will be detoured around the parade area.

A free shuttle will run between the Summer Street side of South Station and East 1st Street in South Boston.

Weekend commuter rail passes are also available for passengers who plan to use those trains. For more information, visit mbta.com/StPatricksDay.

Driving to the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day / Evacuation Day Parade is not recommended, as parking will be limited due to the influx of people coming to South Boston for the event, in addition to street closures.

PARADE ROUTE

The parade will start at Broadway Station, go up West Broadway, continue onto East Broadway, take a right on P Street, then right onto East 4th Street. The parade will then turn left on K Street, and then right onto East 5th Street, where it will continue and turn left onto G Street. The parade will stay to the left of South Boston High School onto Thomas Park, and then take a left onto Telegraph Street. The parde will go down Telegraph Street, turn left onto Dorchester Street and follow that road and then end at Andrew Square.

BEST PLACES TO WATCH THE PARADE

It depends on what type of experience you are looking for. If you are looking to take in the parade from one of the many restaurants along the route, or are looking to take in the parade with the masses, Broadway, especially between Broadway Station and L Street, is a great place to be.

If you are looking to avoid the crowds, great options include taking in the parade from Medal of Honor Park or Thomas Park, as well as a street on the route other than Broadway.

INFORMATION FOR MBTA RIDERS

The MBTA is implementing several measures to accommodate the increased ridership for the event, MBTA officials said in a statement.

During the parade, the MBTA Transit Police Department, “will significantly increase uniformed officer presence throughout the system to deter crime and to respond swiftly to any incidents,” officials said.

The MBTA urges riders to celebrate responsibly, leave their vehicles at home, take public transportation to festivities, and follow these safety tips:

• Drink responsibly; alcohol consumption and/or unruly behavior will not be tolerated on the MBTA transportation system.
• Travel in groups and look out for one another.
• Report any suspicious activity or individuals in distress to the nearest police officer, call the Transit Police at 617-222-1212, or dial 911. Additionally, riders can download the MBTA See Something Say Something App (See Say App).
• Secure personal belongings, especially in crowded areas.
• Follow the instructions of MBTA Transit Police officers and staff, who are there to ensure everyone’s safety and maintain order.
• Take care of yourself and others. Seek medical attention if necessary.
• If you are wearing a backpack, remove it and hold it at your side or set it between your feet.
• Let passengers off the train before you board.
• Travel on the T without bikes. Bikes (including folding bikes) are not allowed on the MBTA at any time on March 17, the day of the parade.

The MBTA is stressing the importance of celebrating responsibly on public transit. Officials said vandalism and disorderly conduct can create safety hazards, delays, and additional cleaning costs—which can divert valuable resources away from essential maintenance services and improvements that benefit all riders.

“The MBTA belongs to all of us. We strongly urge everyone to celebrate responsibly and refrain from engaging in any behavior that could damage property or disrupt the transit system,” MBTA Chief Operating Officer Ryan Coholan said in a statement. “By working together and respecting our shared public spaces, we can ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday for all.”

Additional porters have been assigned to busy hubs, such as Broadway, Andrew, South Station, Downtown Crossing, Government Center, Park Street, Boylston, and Arlington stations, to proactively identify areas in need of cleaning, from sweeping and mopping floors, disposing trash, cleaning restrooms, wiping down surfaces, dusting furniture, and replenishing supplies, officials said. In preparation for a smooth start of service on Monday morning at 5 a.m., crews in the overnight hours Sunday into Monday will deep clean stations.

ADDITIONAL SERVICE AND BUS ROUTE DETOURS

To manage anticipated peak ridership and minimize platform congestion, the MBTA will be deploying additional crowd management personnel throughout the system, officials said. These personnel will be strategically positioned to assist with passenger flow, boarding and disembarking, and to ensure a safe environment for everyone. The MBTA encourages all riders to be especially vigilant while using escalators and navigating stairs during periods of heavy foot traffic.

• Shuttle Bus: The MBTA will provide complimentary shuttles from South Station to South Boston between 10:30 AM and 6 PM on the day of the parade.
• Red Line: The Red Line will run rush hour service from 10 AM to 6 PM, with trains potentially bypassing Broadway station during certain times due to heavy crowds.
• Bus Detours: Several bus routes, including Routes 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, and 47, will be detoured around the parade area.
• Commuter Rail: Commuter Rail trains will run on a regular weekend schedule and with additional cars to accommodate parade attendees. Additional customer service and management staff will be available at South Station to answer any questions and assist customers.
• Between 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., a free shuttle will provide service between South Station and South Boston.
• $10 Weekend Passes are valid for unlimited travel on all Commuter Rail lines in all zones on Saturday and Sunday. Riders are encouraged to buy them in advance with the mTicket app.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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