Parade Revelers at St. Patrick’s Day in Boston. Photo credit: Andrew Liptak via Flickr.
Boston is well-known as being one of the top destinations in the United States to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The main event of the festivities is the St. Patrick’s Day Parade which welcomes over 600,000 attendees each year and boasts being the second largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the country. Beginning at 1pm in South Boston, the three-mile procession starts on West Broadway with colorful floats, performers, local groups, associations and servicemen weaving their way to Dorchester Avenue. Some of the best viewing spots include East Broadway as well as the Medal of Honor Park.
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The parade isn’t the only festive event during St. Patrick’s Day in Boston, as there are numerous events happening on the weekend of the holiday. On Friday there is the Green Kegs and Hammered Kick Off Party from 5pm to 2am, followed by organized bar crawls on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday March 16 there is also the wild Paddy Fest. Visiting the Irish Cultural Centre of New England is another worthwhile St. Patrick’s Day stop, and will be hosting St. Patrick’s Day celebration programming all weekend long with live Irish music, dancing, artists, food and drinks. Additionally, Harpoon Brewery will be hosting their own St. Patrick’s Day Festival on March 1 and 2, 2013. Attendees can enjoy dancing, corned beef and cabbage and delicious craft beer.
Looking for something more low-key? Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Art, Inc. will be offering a St. Patrick’s Day Cooking Demonstration and Open House on March 16, 2013 at 10:30am. You’ll learn how create Irish-inspired fare as well as talk to professional chefs and tour the college’s kitchens. Another idea that doesn’t involve copious amounts of drinking is to sign up for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Road Race which will take place this year on March 17, 2013 at 11am. The race is a 5K, with proceeds going toward the South Boston Club’ Keystone Teen Leadership Program.
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Boston from Boston Things to Do