Chicago dyes its river green; New London, Wisconsin, changes all its signage to New Dublin for the day; Portland, Maine, takes a Paddy’s Day Plunge into the freezing cold Atlantic Ocean; even a Commander at the International Space Station sings “Danny Boy.” No city, however, celebrates St. Patrick’s (Paddy’s) Day quite like Boston, Massachusetts—at least that is what locals and seasoned Harvard students claim. I decided to see for myself this year and answer the pressing question: Does Boston’s Paddy’s Day Parade live up to the hype?
The parade route started at Broadway station and ended 3.5 miles later in Andrew Square, all within the neighborhood of South Boston, familiarly known as Southie. The parade is not just a spectacle of marching bands, floats, and shamrock decorations, but a cherished tradition that brings people of all backgrounds together to celebrate Irish and Irish-American culture.
The famous Southie parade dates back to 1901 and uniquely celebrates not only St. Patrick’s Day but Evacuation Day as well. On March 17, 1776, British forces finally evacuated Boston following the Revolutionary War. Combining Irish heritage and American patriotism, what could be a better cause for celebration?
Because of the holiday’s popularity, actually getting to the celebration was no easy feat. I started my day at 7 a.m., which any college student knows is criminally early. In order to properly participate in the Southie parade, you have to cram yourself into a train car on the T’s Red Line. I met a group of friends at Harvard Station, and we began our journey to Southie. The train was packed to the brim. People clad in green clothes and orange wigs banged on the windows at every stop, desperate to board the train.
There was yelling, drinking, pushing, and chanting throughout our trip. Hours later, after what seemed like a train ride from hell, we arrived at Broadway Station where the parade began. It seemed almost as cramped outside as it did in the train car, and people were even more aggressive. Harvard freshman Ben Kelly ’27 described a physical altercation he witnessed between two adults: “She almost killed everyone. There was [a woman] trying to push everyone.”
This was Kelly’s first time at the parade, and he was not a fan. He characterized the atmosphere as “too aggressive [and] not friendly.” When asked to comment on his experience at the parade, he responded, “It lowkey just sucks. What are we doing?”
Swarms of people pushed up against the fence lining Broadway Street. The people on the parade floats threw candy and beaded necklaces at the masses, sometimes hitting them in the head. If you were close enough to see the parade as it went by, it might have been a more entertaining afternoon. Most people, however, were stuck behind rows of spectators guarding their positions like hawks.
Ella Crimmins, a student at the University of Pittsburgh, had mixed feelings about the event. “The culture is very much…get absolutely wasted and just scream and be mean to people,” which made it a much less enjoyable experience. Nonetheless, she said, “It was fun to observe.”
Crimmins warned that “people aren’t very spatially aware. I have been trampled before.” Yet, what made up for this chaos was the spirit. “A lot of people are just excited to celebrate Irish heritage and St. Patrick’s Day. It’s exciting [and] there’s a lot of happiness in the air.” She gave the parade a six out of ten overall rating. “Spirits are high, but it’s also kind of miserable.”
The amount of drugs and alcohol was overwhelming, even for a college student. Empty cans and cigarette butts littered the ground. Anyone who arrived with white shoes would be leaving with footwear of a completely different color, stained with mud and alcohol. Many of the attendees were heavily intoxicated, likely due to skipping breakfast and lunch to drink. There were paramedics at the ready for anyone overly inebriated, but there did not seem to be enough medical staff for the number of drunk students.
Dave Brewer, a Cambridge resident who recently moved from Colorado, is far beyond his college years. He explained the only con to the parade was “the lack of restrooms.” Though in the middle of the miles-long route is a line of filthy porta-potties, a few more restrooms would likely prevent the amount of public urination and vomiting. Brewer recommended that non-locals come to the parade with “somebody that knows how to navigate the area.”
The crowd that seemed most pleased with the parade were local high school students. Mykenna Galluzzo, a junior at Medford High School, looks forward to the festivities each year. “My experience is losing my friends and being alone and then finding my friends,” she said. “It’s a little claustrophobic, but I do feel safe.” She felt “[the parade] had been really fun. I loved it.”
While the parade itself is family-friendly and celebrates Irish culture, the sidelines could be more welcoming. So if a chaotic afternoon around drunk and sweaty teenagers sounds fun to you, Boston’s St. Paddy’s Day Parade is the perfect place to go. Otherwise, walk over to Grafton Street Pub & Grill and listen to some live Irish music.
Natalie Frank ’27 (nfrank@college.harvard.edu) spent $40 on an Uber back to campus from Southie.