This year, Evacuation Day (which most people admit is just an excuse for Saint Patrick's Day revelry) falls on a Tuesday – March 17th. City and state workers in Suffolk County no longer have this as a holiday. City Hall and the State offices in Suffolk County will be open. But, because of the parade and the drinking of the green beer, there will be a few adaptations around the city.
I do know that a lot of people will be taking advantage of the event to come to Boston. Questions about where to stay, which Irish Pub to visit, and how to get around the city have popped up over on the Boston Trip Advisor forum. It looks like visitors are coming here from all over the country and especially from Ireland.
Do you celebrate Saint Patrick's Day?
- What are your traditions for his yearly festival of all things Irish?
- Who makes your favorite brown bread or Irish soda bread? Scones?
- Are you going to the parade on Sunday 03/15/15? Note that the route has been shortened and the MBTA has not announced what service they will offer to and from the event. You can check this link to see if they update their events page.
- Will you be wearin' the green? (Here's a post on where to buy or rent all sorts of Wearin' of the Green gear!)
- Here's The Onion's Salute to the Saint Patrick's Day Celebations here and elsewhere. (Warning! It's an Auto Start Video with sound.)
About your holiday questions …
According to the Secretary of State's website,
"Evacuation Day – March 17th
(Suffolk County only, state and municipal offices are open)"
The day is not listed on Boston's list of holidays. Therefore, there's no change in parking regulations or trash pick up.
- Update: 03.10.15 As Kate from Boston on Budget pointed out in her comment below, some years the city has tweeted out free parking notices on this holiday. We'll update with details if we find that happens.
- Here's the official word on that:
Basically, everything is open. But, in the past, the city has asked South Boston liquor stores and bars to cut off sales early. There has been no announcement regarding this that we could find this year.
Some MBTA routes in South Boston will be changed because of the parade. Download MBTA St Patrick's Day Parade schedule.
We'll update as press releases come out from around the city.
Update 03/13/15:
Here's a link to and text of the City of Boston Traffic Advisory.
"The City of Boston’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2015, in South Boston. The parade will begin at 1 PM on West Broadway at Dorchester Avenue, will continue to East Broadway, and end at Farragut Road.
The St. Patrick’s Day Road Race will also take place in South Boston on Sunday beginning at 11 AM. Runners will proceed from West Sixth Street at F Street onto Dorchester Street, right onto East Broadway, down and around the Farragut Statue at Day Boulevard, to East Broadway, right onto West Broadway, left onto E Street, left onto West Sixth Street, ending at the Boys and Girls Club at #230 West Sixth Street.
To accommodate the two events, staging/dispersal and clean-up, drivers should expect the following roads to be closed to vehicular traffic. Streets effected by the parade will close no later than 12 PM and streets effected by the road race will close no later than 10 AM.
- Broadway, from Dorchester Avenue to Farragut Road
- On intersecting streets from Dorchester Avenue through Farragut Road, vehicular traffic will not be allowed to cross Broadway
- Dorchester Avenue, in the vicinity of Gillette Park and Andrew Square
- Old Colony Avenue, from Dorchester Avenue to C Street
- Farragut Road, from Columbia Road to Shore Road/East First Street
- All race route streets while the runners make their way to the finish line
Due to a combination of snow and Resident Parking Only restrictions, parking in the neighborhood is limited. Additional parking restrictions that will be implemented temporarily to support Sunday’s events are as follows.
“Tow Zone, No Stopping, Boston Police Special Event Sunday”
- Dorchester Avenue: Both sides, from Gillette Park to Old Colony Avenue (Staging Area)
- Old Colony Avenue: Both sides, from Dorchester Avenue to C Street (Staging Area)
- West Broadway: Both sides, from Dorchester Avenue to Dorchester Street
- East Broadway: Both sides, from Dorchester Street to Farragut Road
- Farragut Road: East side (park side), from Columbia Road to Shore Road /East First Street (Dispersal area)
- West Sixth Street: Southwest side, from Dorchester Avenue to F Street
- F Street: Southeast side (odd side – Boys & Girls Club side), West Sixth Street to Bowen Street
People coming into Boston to attend these events are kindly asked to take the MBTA. Information on service may be found at www.MBTA.com. For a faster return trip, the MBTA advises riders to purchase a round-trip rather than a one-way ticket."
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Matt Murphy's Pub Saves the Day
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Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2008-2011 Penny Cherubino