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3d ago

Boston Tightens Security for South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Officials report no specific threat, urging vigilance for a crowd near one million.

Empty beer boxes, candy, and confetti littered the street during the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 17, 2024.
Nearly 1 million people are expected to attend this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade in South Boston, with the celebration set to start March 15 at 11:30 a.m.
Parade viewers wave flags and cheer on marchers during the annual St. Patrick’s Day & Evacuation Day Parade in Boston, Massachusetts on March 16, 2025. Evacuation Day commemorates the evacuation of British forces from the city of Boston, early in the American Revolutionary War. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)

Overview

  • Boston police say they will field their largest presence yet, with uniformed and plainclothes officers along the route.
  • FBI Boston and the Joint Terrorism Task Force are coordinating with local agencies, and Special Agent in Charge Ted Docks says no specific or credible threats are known.
  • Behavior rules will be strictly enforced, including zero tolerance for public drinking, alcohol confiscations, package stores closing at 4 p.m., last entry to bars at 6:30 p.m., and clearing by 7:30 p.m.
  • Physical safeguards include barricades and fire apparatus blocking side streets, a drone-assisted overhead view with a designated no-fly zone, and roof-deck inspections for unsafe gatherings.
  • The parade begins Sunday at 11:30 a.m. on a reversed route from Andrew Square to A Street, with MBTA free shuttles from South Station 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m., Red Line rush-hour service 11 a.m.–6 p.m., a new family-friendly zone, backpack discouragement, and reminders to report suspicious activity and watch for drink spiking.