In Boston, jubilant crowds decked in green and adorned with shamrocks gathered for the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day parade, celebrating in America’s city most associated with Irish heritage. Green, white, and orange confetti—the national colors of Ireland—showered over enthusiastic onlookers along the 3.5-mile route. Floats and participants paraded through South Boston, a neighborhood steeped in Irish-American culture in a city where more than 20% of the population claims Irish ancestry.
Among the parade-goers was Camryn Craddock, who positioned herself along Broadway, a key parade route. “The energy here is so infectious,” she said. “Even though I didn’t catch much of the parade, seeing everyone enjoy themselves was such a highlight.” Echoing this sentiment was New Hampshire resident Travis Wilshire, who fondly recalled attending as a child and noted the perspective shift now that he’s older.
Spectators lined up eagerly behind barricades, letting out playful jeers at reenactors donned in tricorn hats from the colonial era as they marched past. The weather was warm, albeit a bit cloudy, setting a suitable backdrop for an event steeped in historical significance. The parade, born in the early 20th century, not only marks St. Patrick’s Day but also remembers Evacuation Day—the day in 1776 when British forces withdrew from Boston after an extended siege during the Revolutionary War.
Alex Brough, another attendee, observed that the atmosphere was notably more restrained compared to last year, which had been sullied by incidents of violence and public drunkenness. To preemptively curb such behavior, organizers commenced festivities earlier, and community leaders stressed a policy of “zero tolerance” for misbehavior preceding the parade. Ahead of the event, transit police shared images online of a haul of confiscated alcohol, including large jugs of green-dyed liquid.
“There’s definitely a lot of drinking going on,” Brough acknowledged, hailing from Bedford, Massachusetts. “We witnessed it, but overall I think people were generally well-behaved.” The parade is orchestrated by the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council. Retired Navy Lt. Cmdr. Alanna Devlin Ball, a neighborhood native who represented the U.S. at the 2023 Invictus Games in Germany, served as the parade’s chief marshal, where she claimed gold in powerlifting.
“Lt. Cmdr. Devlin Ball’s 12-year Navy tenure is an inspiration to young women wanting a role in today’s military,” remarked U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, another South Boston native. “We owe gratitude for her service, sacrifice, and the powerful example she sets.” The South Boston parade has a complex political history. For years, gay rights organizations were excluded from participating until a reversal a decade ago, despite a 1990s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that sided with parade organizers. In 2015, two LGBTQ+ groups joined the parade, with Boston Pride celebrating it as a significant step toward inclusivity.
Elsewhere, Chicago hosted its St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday, Philadelphia joined in the celebrations on Sunday, and New York City will have its parade on Monday.
