"St. Patrick's Day / Evacuation Day Parade," South Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the annual parade in South Boston kicked off on the first day of spring to a screaming crowd of thousands as a hailstorm of confetti filled the sky.

There's just something about confetti I like..........in this case, the green, orange, and white are the colors of the Irish flag.



But I am getting ahead of myself. This outing began with a 30-mile drive from home to the Red Line subway station parking garage at the Quincy-Adams station, then a 10-mile ride on the packed train to Broadway in South Boston. The train was standing room only, mostly filled with 20-somethings, drinking nips and beers, vaping cannabis, and generally talking and laughing loudly. Nobody had on masks even though they are still required on public transport. I was the only old man in my train car and I got to sit in the special "reserved for seniors and disabled" seat.  In the image above, arriving at Broadway, the river of humans steadily poured out of the underground right into the starting point of the parade. 

The usual cast of politicians led the show - the Governor, the Mayor of Boston, and other elected types - but the many tens of thousands of spectators were here to see the other participants and partake in the general hoopla - marching bands, floats, swirling flags, dancing troupes, and lots of Irish music.



Nothing like live music regardless the venue.



Especially if the band has bagpipers.



A contingent from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.



Members of the Sheet Metal Workers union ("Tin Men") had great costumes/uniforms.



Police confer with a parade official as they stage the starting line.



A participant passes out green necklace swag.



Miss Boston.



Miss Massachusetts.



Looking back at the starting line as the parade winds down. Crowds were thick on both sides of the route, mostly choking the sidewalks. It was a perfect day for a parade - 60+ degrees F, no wind, no rain, and mostly overcast.

I am already looking forward to next year..........my advice - leave early, expect full and slow subway trains on the Red Line and, expect densely packed human company both on the train and at the parade. Pack lots of patience and tolerance.