Boston police

St. Patrick's Day Parade Preparations in Boston

City officials recommend taking public transportation into South Boston

Boston is getting its Irish on today.

The celebration of the Irish begins at 10 a.m. with the annual St. Patrick's Day breakfast, followed by the St. Patrick's Day 5K Road Race at 11 a.m. and then the annual South Boston parade at 1 p.m.

The City of Boston strongly advises parade attendees to take public transportation and parking enforcement will be heavy. Expect street closures and parking restrictions in full effect. The bottom line: avoid driving into South Boston if possible. Street closures and parking restrictions will be in effect so avoid driving into South Boston.

For those outside for various events, bundle up. Although it won't be bitterly cold, it'll be a sunny day with temperatures in the 30s and lower 40s.

The private St. Patrick's Day breakfast will be held for the first time at the Flynn Cruiseport on South Boston's waterfront.

At 11 a.m., the annual road race kicks off at 230 Sixth St. in South Boston and will feature the youth rock-pop band, the Harmaniacs. All proceeds from the race benefit South Boston Boys & Girls' Club. The route takes runners down East Broadway, around Farragut Statue, returns back up East Broadway to West Broadway, left on East Street, left on West Sixth Street to the finish line, according to the race website.

The day will cap off with tens of thousands expected at the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, which begins at 1 p.m. The 3.6 mile parade lasts almost five hours and features musicians from around the world. More than 100 groups taking part and include 24 floats and 27 bands. Special guests include dozens of firefighters from Galway Fire and Rescue. 

The parade begins outside the Broadway MBTA station at 1 p.m. and travels to West Broadway to Perkins Square, along East Broadway to P Street and then onto East Fourth Street. The route continues to K Street, then East Fifth Street to G Street to Thomas Park to Telegraph Street. Marchers and floats continue onto Dorchester Street, then onto Old Colony Avenue to Andrew Square and the parade finishes on Dorchester Avenue.

Boston police have reported the following road closures and parking restrictions.

  • Dorchester Ave, Both sides, from Gillette Park to Old Colony Ave, and, both sides, from Dorchester Street to Damrell Street
  • Foundry Street, Both sides, from Greenbaum Street to Dorchester Avenue
  • West Second Street, Both sides, from Dorchester Avenue to A Street
  • A Street, Both sides, from Binford Street to West Second Street
  • Binford Street, Both sides, from A Street heading northwesterly to end at 45 Binford Street
  • West Fourth Street, Both sides, from A Street to Dorchester Avenue
  • West Broadway, Both sides, from Dorchester Avenue to Dorchester Street
  • East Broadway, Both sides, from Dorchester Street to P Street
  • P Street, Both sides, from East Broadway to East Fourth Street
  • East Fourth Street, Both sides, from P Street to K Street
  • K Street, Both sides, from East Fourth Street to East Fifth Street
  • East Fifth Street, Both sides, from K Street to G Street
  • G Street, Both sides, from East Fifth Street to #96 G Street
  • Thomas Park, Both sides from G Street to Telegraph Street
  • Telegraph Street, Both sides, from Thomas Park to Dorchester Street
  • Dorchester Street, Both sides, from Telegraph Street to Dorchester Avenue
  • West Sixth Street, Both sides, from F Street to Dorchester Street
  • F Street, Southeast side (Boys & Girls Club side), West Sixth Street to Bowen Street
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