The 2026 South Boston St. Patrick’s Day/Evacuation Day Parade will step off from Andrew Square on Sun., March 15, at 11:30 a.m. This year’s 3.5-mile march will travel on the same route as last year, but in reverse direction, starting from Andrew Square and ending at the MBTA station at Broadway.
Boston City Councillor Ed Flynn explained that the route change by the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, which organizes the parade, is meant as a tribute to the route that Col. Henry Knox took to quietly move cannons and artillery overnight from Roxbury to Dorchester Heights (in present day Southie) in 1776.
Col. Tim Murphy, a lifelong South Boston resident and senior leader in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, will serve as chief marshal.
The parade, one of the nation’s most prominent St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, traces its roots to 1737, when Boston’s Irish community first gathered to honor Ireland’s patron saint. In 1901, it moved to South Boston, home to Dorchester Heights — the historic site where British troops evacuated Boston on March 17, 1776.
That pivotal moment in the American Revolution followed the daring effort of 25-year-old Col. Knox, who transported 59 cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to Dorchester Heights. Positioned overnight, the artillery forced British General William Howe to withdraw his forces, securing a crucial early victory for General George Washington and the Continental Army.
Since 1901, the parade has served as a dual celebration of Irish heritage and Evacuation Day, honoring both the contributions of Irish Americans and the service of the nation’s military. Held annually on the Sunday closest to March 17, the event draws hundreds of thousands of spectators to South Boston.
Murphy, born and raised in South Boston, lives in the neighborhood with his wife, Leah, and their three children — Thomas, 10; Molly, 9; and Maddie, 7. A graduate of Gate of Heaven School and Catholic Memorial High School (Class of 1997), he completed a post-graduate year at Berkshire School before attending the United States Military Academy at West Point.
He served six years on active duty, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, with the 1st Cavalry Division. During that time, he completed two tours in Iraq, totaling 27 months, serving as a rifle platoon leader and battalion battle captain.
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City of Boston Guidance on Parade
The city of Boston provided the following guidance about parade day in South Boston:
The parade will begin at Andrew Square, proceed up Dorchester Street; turn right onto Telegraph Street; right around Thomas Park; left on G Street; right onto 6th Street; left on K Street; right on 4th Street; left on P Street; left on East Broadway; bear right onto West Broadway; and finally right onto A Street, where the parade will conclude.
People attending the parade are strongly encouraged to walk, bike, or take public transit. The MBTA will be running a free shuttle bus between South Station and South Boston between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday. More information is available on the MBTA website.
Cars parked in restricted parking areas will be towed beginning at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 15. Please follow all posted signage and move your vehicle before that time if it is parked on the parade route.
Parking restrictions will be in effect throughout Sunday on the following streets:
- Dorchester Avenue – Both sides, from Gillette Park to Old Colony Avenue, and both sides, from Damrell Street to Kemp Street
- Boston Street – Both sides, from Dorchester Street heading southerly to Ellery Street
- Preble Street – Both sides, from Dorchester Avenue to Old Colony Avenue
- Dexter Street – Both sides, from Dorchester Avenue to Ellery Street
- Dorchester Street – Both sides, from Telegraph Street to Dorchester Avenue
- Damrell Street – Both sides, from Old Colony Avenue to Dorchester Avenue
- Telegraph Street – Both sides, from Thomas Park to Dorchester Street
- Thomas Park – Both sides of southerly arm (normal traffic flow), from Telegraph Street to G Street
- G Street – Both sides, from Story Street to #96 G Street
- East Sixth Street – Both sides, from K Street to G Street
- K Street – Both sides, from East Fourth Street to East Sixth Street
- East Fourth Street – Both sides, from P Street to K Street
- P Street – Both sides, from East Broadway to East Fourth Street
- East Broadway – Both sides, from Dorchester Street to P Street
- West Broadway – Both sides, from Dorchester Avenue to Dorchester Street
- A Street – Both sides, from Binford Street to West Broadway
- West Second Street – Both sides, from Dorchester Avenue to A Street
- Binford Street – Both sides, from A Street heading northwesterly to end at 45 Binford Street
- East First Street – North side (opposite M Street Park), from driveway out of the MBTA Bus Layover opposite the basketball court to M Street
- West Fourth Street – Both sides, from B Street to A Street
- West Sixth Street – Both sides, from F Street to Dorchester Street (it has been requested to have the area cleared two (2) hours before the 11:00am race
- F Street – Southeast side (odd side – Boys & Girls Club side), West Sixth Street to Bowen Street
The Marine Park Garage at 12 Drydock Ave will offer reduced price parking for vehicles with a South Boston resident sticker for those who need to park away from the parade route. This will be offered from Saturday at 6 p.m. to Sunday at 8 p.m.
The Edgerley Family South Boston Club’s St. Patrick’s Day 5K Road Race will occur the same day at 9:00 a.m. The 5K race route starts at the South Boston Boys and Girls Club (SBBGC), proceeds on West 6th Street to Dorchester Street, Dorchester Street to East Broadway, East Broadway to the Farragut Statue, across Farragut Road at Day Blvd. where it turns around back onto East Broadway and continues across L Street to West Broadway, then turns left onto E Street and left back onto West 6th and finishes back at the SBBGC.
