Boston's St. Patrick's Day Parade Will Return After Two Years

BOSTON — For the first time since 2019, Boston's St. Patrick's Day parade will return to the country's most Irish city for a day filled with events and festivities.

The parade will kick off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 20, after two years of cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The parade will return to South Boston on a slightly shorter route this year citing ongoing challenges to public health and safety.

Up to a million people attend the parade every year - and they arrive early to claim their viewing spots along the parade route. The parade route will be closed to traffic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Parade

While there isn't a bad spot to view the parade, the best advice is to get there early. In the past, people have lined chairs and place savers down the streets, but it's not clear just how large the crowd will be this year.

Starting at the Broadway station in Southie, the parade will continue down Broadway before ending at Farragut Road- the same route the parade has used in the past when the weather was tough.

The road race will start at 11 a.m. on West Sixth Street at the Boys and Girls Club and is expected to finish by noon also at Farragut Rd.

Parking and Traffic

"Tow Zone No Stopping Boston Police Special Event Sunday" parking restrictions will be in effect down most streets connecting to the parade route from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Any vehicles without a South Boston resident parking sticker will be asked to exit the Castle Island parking lot before 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 19. Due to parking restrictions created by the parade, DCR will accommodate vehicles with valid South Boston resident parking stickers at Castle Island from 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 19, through 10:00 p.m. on Monday, March 21. The lot will be open to all visitors after 7 a.m. on Sunday.

All cars will be allowed to park overnight on Sunday into Monday, March 21. Normal Castle Island parking restrictions return on Monday, March 21.

Boston police reminded parade-goers that officers will be stationed along the parade route to enforce city ordinances banning open containers of alcohol in public, noise violations, disorderly conduct, urinating in public, and underage drinking.