St. Patrick's Day, Evacuation Day and A South Boston Cleanup In One Day

We probably all know March 17th is St. Patrick's Day. Did you know it is Evacuation Day too?

On March 17,1776 British Forces were successfully driven out of Boston, a pivotal moment in the American Revolution. Thus became what is known as Evacuation Day. This year is the 250th Anniversary. 

Join Revolution 250, Boston 250 and the South Boston Citizens' Association on March 17, 2026/ The ceremony will take place from 11am to 1:30pm with processions, historical reenactments, and a rededication of the Dorchester Heights Monument in South Boston. The monument will be open from 1:30pm to 3pm. 

At Dorchester Heights, elected officials and community leaders will convene a program that will include reenactment units from “the Lexington Minute Men, the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment, the Henry Knox Color Guard, the Henry Knox Regiment of Artillery, General George Washington (portrayed by John Koopman) and historical assets from Fort Ticonderoga and Saratoga 250.

To finish out your day, join in the South Boston Community CleanUp!

The South Boston Community Health Center's (SBCHC) Youth Ambassadors, South Boston Neighborhood Development, and Councilor Ed Flynn are holding a Post‑Parade Spring Cleaning!

Tuesday, March 17
4–6 PM
Meet at SBCHC, 409 West Broadway

All ages welcome (under 12 with an adult). Youth can earn community service hours! Gloves, bags, and supplies are provided. You bring your South Boston spirit.

Can’t make it? Take a moment to clean your own corner of the neighborhood. Let’s keep South Boston vibrant and welcoming for everyone.

South Boston Evacuation/St. Patrick's Day Parade Reverses Direction

The South Boston Evacuation/St. Patrick's Day Parade is Sunday, March 15, 2026. This year the parade is reversed to honor the historic route of Henry Knox. It will start at Andrew's Square at 11:30am and end at West Broadway and A Street.  

Welcome parade goers. Have fun. Be Safe. Please respect the host neighborhood, be mindful of families and children attending and don't forget that public and underage drinking is illegal. If you need to "go" on parade day, visit one of the portajohns   located enroute to and throughout the parade route.

New this year, Medal of Honor Park will serve as a family-friendly zone, featuring military vehicles, a bouncy house, and parade sponsors.

South Boston Evacuation Day / St Patrick's Day Parade Route

From Andrews Square up Dorchester Street, right onto Telegraph Street and then circle Thomas Park to the right. Next, turn left onto G Street and right onto 6th Street. Take another left onto K Street, turn right on 4th Street, and then turn left on P Street. Turn left on East Broadway, right to West Broadway, and end at A Street.

The St. Patrick’s Day Road Race will also take place on Sunday beginning at 9:00 AM (new time). The 5K race route starts and ends at the South Boston Boys and Girls Club (230 West 6th). The run 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.

Before the race and parade is the St. Patrick's Day Breakfast hosted by Senator Nick Collins at the Ironworkers Local 7 Union Hall broadcasted live at 9am on Caught in Southie's Instagram page, Irish Hit Parade Radio, Boston Neighborhood Network Media and New England Cable News (NECN).

To accommodate the race and parade and the staging/dispersal and clean-up, drivers should expect roads on the route to start closing to vehicular traffic at 8am. 

Tow Zone, No Stopping, Boston Police Special Event Sunday
Towing will begin at 2 AM on Sunday morning. The Boston Police Department will begin deploying pedestrian barricades at 5:00 AM. Additional parking restrictions (check posted signs) will be implemented temporarily to support Sunday’s events are as follows:

• A Street, Both sides, from Binford Street to West Broadway (new)
• Binford Street, Both sides, from A Street heading northwesterly to end at 45 Binford Street
• West Second Street, Both sides, from Dorchester Avenue to A Street
• Dorchester Avenue, both sides from Gillette Park to Old Colony Avenue
• Dorchester Avenue, both sides, from Damrell Street to Kemp Street
• West Fourth Street, Both sides, from B Street to A Street
• West Sixth Street, Both sides, from F Street to Dorchester Street
• F Street, Southeast side (odd side), from West Sixth to Bowen Street
• East First Street, North side (opposite M St. Park) from MBTA Bus Layover driveway opposite basketball court to M Street
• 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 Sixth Street
• East Sixth Street, Both sides, from K Street to G Street
• G Street, Both sides, from Story Street to #96 G Street
• Thomas Park, Both sides of southerly arm (normal traffic flow), from Telegraph Street to G Street
• Telegraph Street, Both sides, from Thomas Park to Dorchester Street
• Dorchester Street, Both sides, from Telegraph Street to Dorchester Avenue
• Damrell Street, Both sides, from Old Colony Avenue to Dorchester Avenue
• Dexter Street, Both sides, from Dorchester Avenue to Ellery Street
• Preble Street, Both sides, from Dorchester Avenue to Old Colony Avenue
• Boston Street, Both sides, from Dorchester Street heading southerly to Ellery Street

Discounted Parking: South Boston resident parking sticker holders who need to move their cars are eligible for reduced parking rates ($1) starting Saturday, March 14th at 6 PM through Sunday, March 15th at 8 PM at the Flynn Marine Park Garage located at 12 Drydock Ave.    

MBTA: Red Line will be running on a “rush hour service” schedule from 10 AM to 6 PM. It may skip the Broadway stop “during certain times due to heavy crowds,” the T said. The MBTA will be offering free shuttle buses between 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM to and from South Station (Summer & Atlantic) & E. First St at the City Point Bus Terminal. The last trip to South Station departs at 4:30 PM. Due to road closures the day of the parade, Routes 9 and 11 service will terminate at 6:45 AM and then resume at 6 PM. Riding Blue Bikes is another option.

Public Restrooms

There will be porta potties along A Street: ten including an ADA accessible one at 232 A St (corner of A & Binford Streets), and six including an ADA accessible one at the A St Park (along the West First St entrance) in addition to the parade route public restrooms.

Southie Fun Facts for March 15th: Liquor Stores will close at 4pm. All bars and restaurants in 02127 will close between 6-6:30pm and patrons will need to leave by 7:30pm. There will be zero tolerance and a $200 citation for public drinking or public cannabis consumption.

Breaking News From Gillette To The Neighborhood

Dear South Boston Residents and Community Members,

We are writing to share important news about the future of our company.

 

Today, we are announcing to our employees that we have decided to locate our new Headquarters and Technical Innovation Center at 232 A Street in South Boston. We plan to buy this property from Breakthrough Properties which was recently subject to an extensive development review process, and build a modern, state-of-the-art home there. This decision will support our future success and honor our roots in the very neighborhood where our company began almost 125 years ago.

 

This decision represents our largest single investment ever in Boston, nearly $1 billion, underscoring our confidence in this city as a global innovation destination. This choice is not just about our business; it is an investment in Boston itself. This very intentional choice will help catalyze neighborhood growth and continued success, and bring tangible benefits to the community, including construction and trade jobs, new open space, sidewalks, bike lanes, waterfront access, civic/cultural elements, and more.

 

This is also just the beginning. We continue to make progress in reimagining our existing 31-acre campus in partnership with you, the City, area leaders and the broader community. We are thrilled that our future headquarters will live in the heart of this vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood — one that will bring incredible benefits and amenities for all.

 

This exciting advancement in Boston builds on the significant progress we are making in Andover, where the exterior of our 21st Century Manufacturing Center is complete after breaking ground last Spring. Together, both projects represent an approximate $1.5 billion investment in the Commonwealth and the largest investment we have ever made in our Grooming operations.

 

We are very excited about the future ahead on all fronts, and we hope to begin construction in Boston as soon as 2027, taking an important step toward the future for Gillette and the community.

 

We look forward to continuing to partner with you on the journey ahead.

 

Best regards, 

 

The Gillette Team 

Evacuation Day & St Patrick's Day Festivities: March 10 - March 17

Thank you Lydia Polaski for sharing these upcoming Neighborhood Evacuation Day / St. Patrick’s Festivities  

• South Boston Citizens Association Events / Activities Facebook

• Evacuation Day / St. Patrick’s Parade / Sunday, March 15th at 11:30am

• National Parks Service Evacuation Day 250 Commemoration / March 13th + 17th

• Timothy “Doc” Cook Scholarship Foundation: St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Showdown Bean Pot Hockey Tournament (NYPD | BFD vs Southie | BPD) / March 13th (4-8pm) + March 14th (2-6pm), Murphy Rink

• Edgerley Family Boys and Girls Club Annual St. Patrick’s Day Road Race / March 15th (check out opportunities to run + volunteer + sponsor here)

• Condon Community Center Council Annual St. Patrick's Day Senior Luncheon / March 10th, 11am, 75 Flaherty Way, 02127

Sail Boston South Boston Community Meeting

Correct room number is 162AB.

If The Tall Ships are coming July 11th through July 16, 2026. A fleet of the world’s most magnificent international tall ships and military ships, in an epic peacetime gathering, will sail into the port of Boston as part of Sail250®. In the Seaport, Tall Ships will be berthed at the Federal Courthouse dock, Fan Pier, Commonwealth Pier, Fish Pier, Pier 5 and Black Falcon. 

Discover all the details: security, safety, potential detours and road closures along with the best viewing areas at the Sail Boston Community Briefing for South Boston residents (more below).

Sail Boston South Boston

Monday, March 9 | 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. | Menino Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 052AB

Sail Boston Inc. will be hosting a community briefing for South Boston residents on Sail250 sharing updates on the return of the Tall Ships this July!

Over 1 million people are expected to visit  the Tall Ships berthed around the Boston Harbor.

For more information, please visit sailboston.com.

Boston Coastal Storm Risk Management Study Focus Groups

The Army Corps (USACE) Study Partnership is a federal partnership between the City of Boston and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assessing Boston's coastal storm risk management.

Join the Office of Climate Resilience for an introduction to the tradeoff analysis and draft graphic renderings of the US Army Core of Engineers' structural alignments. Building off of feedback from 2025, the City has developed ideas around how the USACE toolkit could be applied in the Boston Harbor waterfront.

• 3/3: Coastal Storm Risk Management Study: Access and Equity Advocates Focus Group 1 from 1pm to 3pm at 26 Court Street, Room 327.  The City of Boston and USACE are seeking feedback on tradeoffs and renderings of flood infrastructure alignments. The intended audience for this Focus Group includes folks who work on waterfront programming, advocacy around how people get to, use, and explore our Boston waterfront, and folks who engage with communities around building connections to our waterfront. Pre- registration required by February 27th.

• 3/4: Coastal Storm Risk Management Study: Access and Equity Advocates Focus Group 2 from 10am to 12pm t 26 Court Street, Room 327. The City of Boston and USACE are seeking feedback on tradeoffs and renderings of flood infrastructure alignments. The intended audience for this Focus Group includes folks who work on waterfront programming, advocacy around how people get to, use, and explore our Boston waterfront, and folks who engage with communities around building connections to our waterfront. Pre- registration required by March 2nd.

• 3/4: Coastal Storm Risk Management Study: General Interest Focus Group 1 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at 26 Court Street, Room 327. The intended audience for this Focus Group includes anyone who has a general interest in our project to date. You may live, work, play, or visit the waterfront. Pre- registration required by March 2nd.

• 3/5: Coastal Storm Risk Management Study: General Interest Focus Group 2 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at 26 Court Street, Room 327. The intended audience for this Focus Group includes anyone who has a general interest in our project to date. You may live, work, play, or visit the waterfront. Pre- registration required by March 3rd.

• 3/11: Coastal Storm Risk Management Study: Maritime Focus Group from 9am to 11am at 26 Court Street, Room 327. The intended audience for this Focus Group includes folks who work on the water and in waterfront industries, access the water for recreation or cultural connection, use water transportation or operate watercraft, and folks who or do business along the shore (i.e. Designated Port Areas). Pre- registration required by March 9th.

originally published 2.26.26