The South Boston St. Patrick's Day / Evacuation Day Parade steps off this Sunday, March 16.
More than 120 parade groups, including singers, dancers, and floats are set to line out on Sunday for the parade which is starting an hour and a half earlier than usual.
Organizers this week shared tips ahead of parade day instructing attendees to respect the neighborhood, maintain a family-friendly environment, and follow instructions from law enforcement officials. Public drinking is also not permitted.
A few parade day tips
Posted by South Boston St Patrick's Day Parade on Sunday, March 9, 2025
History of the South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade
Bostonians were the first to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in North America, organizers say.
On March 17, 1737, as a gesture of solidarity among the city’s new Irish immigrants, Boston’s Irish community joined together in festivities of their homeland and to honor the memory of the Patron Saint of Ireland.
Banquets and parades to celebrate the occasion became common, with Boston’s early St. Patrick’s Day Parades occurring downtown by the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
In 1901, the parade moved to South Boston, a neighborhood that was not only home to a robust Irish community but was the site of Dorchester Heights, where the evacuation of British troops from Boston on March 17, 1776, was made possible and is commemorated.
Given the significance of both the St. Patrick’s Day and Evacuation Day holidays, the parade came to honor both.
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Starting in 1901, the annual parade became a dual-hatted celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and Irish heritage, as well as military service and the commemoration of Evacuation Day.
Following the 1947 parade, Boston Mayor James Michael Curley himself granted authority to organize and conduct the St. Patrick’s Day-Evacuation Day Parade to the petitioner, South Boston Allied War Veterans Council (SBAWVC), an unincorporated association of individuals elected from various South Boston veterans groups. And with that, since 1948, the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day / Evacuation Day Parade has been veteran-led.
The SBAWVC, a registered 501 (c) 19 veterans non-profit, derives its members from each of the veterans posts in South Boston. The SBAWVC consists of volunteers who are devoted to putting on the best possible parade for the community.
Each year, the parade occurs on the Sunday closest to March 17, with a commitment to keeping alive the tradition of honoring heritage and service.
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When is the South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade 2025?
The South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade is on Sunday, March 16, 2025.
What time is the South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade 2025?
The South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2025 begins at 11:30 am on Sunday, March 16.
What is the route of the South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade 2025?
The South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade 2025 begins at Broadway Station, turns onto P Street, and ends at Andrew Station.
We want everyone to know that we're using the SAME ROUTE as last year's parade! ☘️
We're kicking off the parade at Broadway Station, taking a right onto P Street, and then finally ending the parade at Andrew Station. Check out our map below!#southbostonparade #stpatricksday pic.twitter.com/MWnvjNovec
— St. Patrick's Day Parade (@ParadeBoston) February 26, 2025
What's the best way to get to the South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade 2025?
Organizers say that 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 am to 6 pm. 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 am, 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. Please visit MBTA.com for additional details.
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.
Who is the Grand Marshal of the South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade 2025?
Lieutenant Commander Alanna Devlin Ball, a native of South Boston, is the Grand Marshal of the South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade 2025.
She graduated from Boston Latin Academy in 2003 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Fashion from Lasell University and a Master of Business Administration from Saint Leo University.
In 2011, she received her commission through Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island.
She lives in Virginia Beach with her husband, James, and their three rescue dogs, Oliver, Kai, and Rudy.
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