Boston held its St. Patrick’s Day parade, an event Mayor Michelle Wu called one of the city’s biggest events of the year.
BOSTON — Boston held its St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday, an event Mayor Michelle Wu called one of the biggest events of the year for the city and a day to bring people together.
Boston is home to one of the largest Irish enclaves in the country, and the parade typically draws around 1 million people.
The Democratic mayor said during a broadcast of the event that she was happy for the sunny skies despite the freezing temperatures and gusty winds, adding: “We can handle it here in Boston.”
The temperature was 36 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) when the procession set off in South Boston on Sunday afternoon. Cheering spectators dressed in green lined the route. Some held large Irish flags that fluttered in the wind.
Democratic Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said she was excited to get involved and celebrate the immigrant community and recognize veterans and current service members.
Last year, the parade returned after a two-year hiatus during the pandemic. Parade organizers decided to shorten the route last year.
This year the parade returned to its full route. Boston lifeguards led the procession.
The parade was organized by the South Boston Council of Allied War Veterans. This year’s chief sheriff was Coleman Nee, a veteran, CEO of Triangle, Inc., a nonprofit organization that helps people with disabilities, and former secretary of state for veterans services.
