South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade Changes Coming
Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade will run with a smaller lineup this year. City leaders are considering an earlier start time, though the traditional route from Broadway Station to Andrew Square stays the same.
Police, parade organizers, and city officials are meeting to work out the new start time, according to WCVB-TV. They’re hoping to make the whole event run more smoothly.
This big parade serves two purposes – celebrating St. Patrick while remembering when the British left in 1776. These two traditions came together when the parade made South Boston its home in 1901.
Boston’s Irish celebrations started back in 1737 with North America’s first St. Patrick’s Day celebration. The Ancient Order of Hibernians took charge of organizing those early parades.
Things haven’t always gone smoothly. Over the last few decades, arguments broke out about who could join the parade, causing tension in the neighborhood.
Today’s parade winds through what used to be mostly Irish homes. Walking past Dorchester Heights means something special – it’s an important spot in American military history.
Irish culture and military history come together along the route. The party mixes bagpipes with war stories, celebrating both Irish heritage and the day the British ships left.
As things change, this beloved tradition keeps going. New adjustments try to keep the parade running smoothly while keeping what makes it special.
They’ll announce the final schedule once planning is done. These discussions will figure out how having fewer groups affects the day’s timing.
