South Boston St. Patrick’s Day parade will start earlier to help curb drunkenness, violence

Boston.com ^ | March 11, 2025 | By Molly Farrar

[jerod]

The parade was plagued last year by public drinking, violence, assaults, overcrowding, and disorderly conduct, officials said.

After an “anything goes” St. Patrick’s Day parade in South Boston last year, the celebration will begin an hour and a half earlier in an effort to curb drunkenness and violence.

Last year’s parade, which reportedly drew a crowd of 1 million people, seemed to be particularly rowdy. Eleven people were arrested, and Red Line trains had to bypass Broadway Station due to heavy crowds.

“It was out of control,” state Sen. Nick Collins, who represents South Boston, said Tuesday. Collins, fellow representative Councilor Ed Flynn, Rep. Stephen Lynch, and state Rep. David Biele sent a letter to college leaders in the state attempting to set a new tone for St. Patrick’s Day this year.

The parade previously began at 1 p.m., giving crowds ample time to day drink and make their way to South Boston, mostly on the Red Line. Instead, the parade, hosted by the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, is kicking off at 11:30 a.m. Sunday...

[jerod]

"The parade was plagued last year by.... public drinking, violence, assaults, overcrowding, and disorderly conduct,... officials said."

So... It was like every other day in Bbahstun. LOL

[KingLudd]

Just means sanctioned drunkenness starts earlier this year. Woohoo!

[ComputerGuy]

Curb drunkenness

In Boston?

[Red Badger]

More time for drinking!!😏............................

[Sirius Lee]

NTB

[equaviator]

Your cousin from Boston.

[Dr. Franklin]

This is promoting ethnic bias that the Irish are all drunks. Shocking that this is permitted in this PC age.

[blitz128]

Won’t help 😂

[albie]

So they’ll start the race with bloody marys.

[Rummyfan]

The parade previously began at 1 p.m., giving crowds ample time to day drink and make their way to South Boston, mostly on the Red Line. Instead, the parade, hosted by the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, is kicking off at 11:30 a.m. Sunday...

So... people will start drinking earlier.

[gunnut]

That sounds like a challenge to a bunch of drunk Irishmen.

[escapefromboston]

Why even have a parade then ?

[posterchild]

It used to be drunk but mostly peaceful 20+ years ago. Lots of firefighters and police officers from other cities would come and march in the parade. Some residents along the way would invite firefighters and officers to briefly visit to grab a plastic cup of their preferred beverage and return to the parade.

[HIDEK6]

The parade was plagued last year by public drinking, violence, assaults, overcrowding, and disorderly conduct, officials said.

I have an idea.

Let’s start drinking EARLIER!

[logi_cal869]

Yeah, THAT’LL WORK!

/s

[Chickensoup]

parades started at 9 or 10 when i was a kid

[nitzy]

I have found that starting my drinking a couple hours earlier in the day always resulted in better outcomes.

WTF? Have these guys ever been to a noon kick off college football game?

[NFHale]

Re “won’t help”

Nope… not one wee bit… 🤣🤣🤣

[milagro]

If starting earlier would help, how about 5:00 AM?

[1Old Pro]

the celebration will begin an hour and a half earlier in an effort to curb drunkenness and violence.

OR, everyone will start drinking earlier making it worse.