St. Patrick’s Day Parade Honors Boston’s Irish Heritage in America’s Most Irish City

BOSTON—A multitude of revelers dressed in green, adorned with shamrocks, took over the streets of America’s most Irish city on Sunday during the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Green, white, and orange confetti—representing the colors of Ireland—fell like rain along sections of the 3.5-mile parade route. Floats and participants marched through South Boston, a hub of Irish-American culture in a city where over 20% of residents identify as Irish.

Camryn Craddock was one of the spectators along the busy parade route, which included Broadway, the area’s main street.

“I love the energy that everyone brings. It’s an exciting atmosphere. It’s never dull,” shared the Massachusetts local. “I didn’t catch much of the parade, but seeing everyone enjoy themselves was truly heartwarming.”

Travis Wilshire, another attendee, echoed her sentiments.

“The last time I attended, I was just a kid,” remarked the New Hampshire native. “So it’s definitely interesting to experience it from a different perspective now.”

Onlookers behind metal barriers playfully booed as colonial reenactors donned in British tricorn hats marched by on a pleasantly warm yet cloudy day.

This annual parade, which has origins dating back to the early 1900s, celebrates both St. Patrick’s Day and Evacuation Day, commemorating the 1776 departure of British forces from Boston after a lengthy siege during the Revolutionary War.

Parade attendee Alex Brough noted that this year was largely free of the disturbances and excessive drinking that marred the previous year’s events. Parade organizers had moved the start time earlier and local leaders had warned of a “zero tolerance” policy for disorderly conduct before the parade.

Prior to the festivities, transit police shared a photo on social media depicting a stack of clear garbage bags filled with confiscated alcohol, including gallon jugs of vibrant green liquid.

“I’m sure there’s a lot of alcohol consumed today,” admitted the Bedford, Massachusetts, resident. “We definitely noticed it, but overall, people seemed to behave pretty well under the circumstances.”

The parade is organized by the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, and this year’s chief marshal was retired Navy Lt. Cmdr. Alanna Devlin Ball, who grew up in the area and represented the U.S. at the 2023 Invictus Games in Germany, where she won a gold medal in powerlifting.

“Lt. Cmdr. Devlin Ball’s 12 years of military service serves as an inspiration for young women aspiring to serve in the armed forces. We appreciate her dedication, sacrifice, and exemplary character,” stated Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), a South Boston native.

Chicago celebrated its St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday, while Philadelphia also held festivities on Sunday, and New York City will host its parade on Monday.