Ahead of St. Patrick's Day parade, Southie leaders warn of ‘zero tolerance' for public debauchery

Boston Globe

14-03-2025

The parade, organized by the
public debauchery sparked a debate about the future of the event, which has a century-plus history in South Boston, harkening back to the days when the neighborhood was known as a working-class enclave of Irish Americans. In recent years, the parade, one of the city's largest celebrations, drew up to a million revelers, according to police estimates.
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On Sunday, every available Boston police officer will be called into work. So-called
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said during an appearance on GBH this week that the parade represents the largest annual event that runs through a residential neighborhood in the city. She added that the event celebrates the city's immigrant heritage and is 'not just a drinking fest.'
'Just remember that's someone's yard, that's someone's house,' she said. 'We just ask that you keep that in mind.'
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Revelers tossed cans of beer down to firefighters from out of town marching in the annual St. Patrick's Day parade in 2024.
Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff
A reveler carried an alcoholic mixture in a jug during the annual St. Patrick's Day parade in 2024.
Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff
Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox said this week that his department's goal is to cut down on the public drinking and unlawful behavior that was on display last year.
'This parade is welcoming and safe for all attendees and participants and should not compromise the quality of life for the residents of South Boston,' he said at a news conference.
Flynn, a native of the neighborhood, floated the idea of moving the location of the parade if revelers didn't clean up their act. During an interview this week, Flynn said, 'last year ... in my opinion, we had major problems with the public drinking and violence along the parade route.'
Flynn said a task force has held a monthly meeting since last year's parade to discuss what went wrong and how it could be avoided in the future. The parade, he said, has an earlier start time this year: 11:30 a.m., instead of the traditional 1 p.m. kickoff. Flynn hoped that would curb last year's excess. Additionally, marchers this year are required to sign a code-of-conduct, essentially agreeing to act respectfully while they march. He also said restaurant and bar owners have been notified to be on the lookout for men drugging women's drinks.
'It's about treating our veterans community with respect,' said Flynn of the parade. 'It's not about drinking alcohol.'
This year, police and parks department officials will have a presence at places like Medal of Honor Park, the site of the first Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the country, 'where serious incidents of [violence] went viral on social media last year,' according to the letter from officials.
Additionally, fire officials will crack down on roof deck overcrowding, and licensing authorities will work with police 'to ensure underage purchases of alcohol do not take place on Parade Day weekend.'
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Authorities have also modified alcohol service hours for South Boston businesses, with all package stores in the neighborhood to be closed by 4 p.m. Southie bars and restaurants will not admit anyone after 6:30 p.m., alcohol service will cease at 7 p.m., and patrons are expected to be off the premises by 7:30 p.m.
Last year through social media posts and text messages, some residents
shared photos and videos of visibly drunk people and fights during the parade, and expressed concern it has evolved into a 'giant frat party' and outgrown the neighborhood's ability to manage it. There were reports of partiers ripping out street signs and urinating in public. However, some in the neighborhood, particularly some business owners who benefit from the St. Patrick's Day crowds, found the notion of moving the parade nonsensical.
This year's 3-mile parade route will start at the Broadway MBTA station, proceed down West Broadway and onto East Broadway. The route turns right onto P Street, then another right onto East 4th Street. The parade then will move west through the neighborhood, passing by the old South Boston High School before ending in Andrew Square.
The parade will be preceded by the St. Patrick's Day Breakfast, another annual rite in South Boston that typically features politicians ribbing one another with bad jokes. The political brass that are scheduled to attend this year's breakfast at the Ironworker's Union Hall include Governor Maura Healey and Wu. A broadcast of the proceedings is slated to start at 9 a.m.
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'The St. Patrick's Day Breakfast in South Boston is a storied tradition we have celebrated for a century paying homage to Boston's Irish and American heritage,' said Collins, a state senator who represents Southie and the host of the breakfast.
The parade has attracted controversy in the past for reasons beyond drunken foolishness. In 2022, roughly 20 people wearing neo-Nazi insignia lined up along the parade route and unfurled a banner that read, 'Keep Boston Irish.' Parade organizers said that group was neither invited nor welcome. (In recent days, police said they were not aware of any similar threat to this year's parade.)
In 2016, then-Mayor
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the parade was nixed two years in a row.
The South Boston parade was canceled at least twice because of World War I and again in 1920 because of icy street conditions, according to 'South Boston on Parade,' a history of the event.
Globe correspondent Nathan Metcalf contributed to this report.
Danny McDonald can be reached at