South Boston’s storied St. Patrick’s Day / Evacuation Day parade is literally turning itself around this year. The long-running celebration will step off from Andrew Square on Sunday, March 15, with organizers reversing the usual direction to revive an older route and echo the Revolutionary War march that helped secure Dorchester Heights. The tweak has drawn neighborhood applause and fresh attention as the city heads toward the 250th anniversary of Evacuation Day on March 17.
Route Flips Back To Andrew Square
According to the parade’s official site, the March 15 procession will now launch from Andrew Square, head northeast along Dorchester Street, wind east through Telegraph Hill, loop at City Point, then roll west on Broadway toward the Broadway MBTA station. Organizers have also added a short extension past Broadway onto A Street, which shifts where the finale unfolds, per the South Boston St. Patrick's Day / Evacuation Day Parade.
A Nod To 1776
Parade planners are pitching the reversal as a history-minded move that lines up with the upcoming 250th Evacuation Day. That holiday marks the British withdrawal from Boston after Continental forces fortified Dorchester Heights with artillery hauled down from Fort Ticonderoga. The National Park Service notes that George Washington’s overnight fortification of the heights in early March 1776 forced British troops to leave on March 17, and organizers say this year’s alignment is meant to echo that pivotal push.
Neighbors Pushed For The Change
Residents in Andrew Square had been lobbying parade leaders to restore the old starting point, and local advocates say the decision landed well. Linda Zablocki, president of the Andrew Square Civic Association, told The Boston Globe that "The residents of Andrew Square are thrilled about this," while City Councilor Ed Flynn called the route flip "fitting and proper" as Boston enters a milestone Evacuation Day year. Organizers have also added a family-focused viewing zone at Medal of Honor Park along Broadway, the Globe reports.
Safety And Crowd Control Remain Top Of Mind
The parade has long packed South Boston with spectators and, in some years, a reputation for heavy drinking and rowdy behavior. The AP has reported that the event draws very large crowds, and local officials in recent years have stressed a "zero tolerance" posture along with stepped-up enforcement to clamp down on public drinking and violence, according to coverage by CBS Boston.
How To Watch
Organizers list the parade start time as 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 15, and are strongly urging attendees to take public transit. The MBTA is slated to run rush-hour Red Line service on parade day, although trains may skip stops at Broadway or Andrew if crowds swell too much. The city’s traffic advisory notes that streets along the route will be closed for several hours and lays out detours and parking rules for residents and visitors, according to Boston.gov.
Evacuation Day Ceremonies Planned
Separate Evacuation Day ceremonies are set for March 17, with organizers planning a procession of re-enactors and public officials through South Boston and a re-dedication of the Dorchester Heights monument that will wrap up with celebratory cannon fire. The Boston Globe reported the plans and highlighted how parade organizers and local leaders are linking the neighborhood’s modern-day festivities to the Revolutionary moment being honored.
For many South Boston residents, the reversed route is doing double duty. It brings back an older neighborhood tradition while folding a solemn chapter of 1776 into the same weekend as the community’s loudest, most crowded street party.
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