St. Patrick's Day falls on a Saturday in 2012, and the city has festivities planned leading up to and after the holiday. St. Patrick's Day draws more than 500,000 visitors to Boston--a city with a long-standing Irish tradition. Boston held America's first St. Patrick's Day celebration in 1737, and the city still boasts one of the nation's largest St. Patrick's Day parades, plus more Irish pubs than any other place in the USA. Here's a sampling of some scheduled St. Patrick's Day events in Boston:
Beer and Irish Rock and Roll
Head to the Harpoon Brewery in Boston for the Harpoon St. Patrick's Festival March 2-3 featuring food vendors selling corned beef and more, a cash bar (you'll want to try the Celtic Ale) and live Irish and Rock and Roll bands from the Boston area.
Irish Punk
Boston's own Irish-punk group, the Dropkick Murphys, take over the House of Blues on Lansdowne Street in Boston from March 14 through March 16, and they're on stage at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts, for two shows on March 17, as well as at the Brighton Music Hall in Allston, Massachusetts, for one show on March 18.
A Little Bit of Ireland
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with the Reagle Players as they present A Little Bit of Ireland on March 17 and 18 at the Reagle Music Theatre in Waltham. For tickets, call 781-891-5600.
Irish Cultural Centre Open House
On Saturday, March 17, head to the Irish Cultural Centre of New England for a St. Patrick's Day Celebration, which kicks off with breakfast & pints at 10 a.m. and continues with a corned beef and cabbage lunch and live Irish music and Irish step dancing into the evening. Admission is $10 beginning at noon with additional charges for food. For more information, call 781-821-8291.
St. Patrick's Day at the JFK Library and Museum
John F. Kennedy, 35th president, may well be the most famous Irish American. March is a perfect time to visit the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, which is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. One special exhibit is currently on view: In Her Voice: Jacqueline Kennedy, The White House Years, which runs through the remainder of 2012. On Saturday, March 17, the JFK Library hosts a performance of Themselves, a musical theater presentation about an Irish girl who leaves home to start a new life in America. This free performance is for families with children 5 and up, and attendees must pre-register by completing this online form. For more information, call 617-514-1600 or toll free, 866-JFK-1960.
St. Patrick's Day Parade in South Boston
Join the nearly 600,000 people who'll turn out for this year's 111th St. Patrick's Day Parade in South Boston. The parade steps off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 18, 2012 beginning at the MBTA station on West Broadway and ending in Andrew Square. Your best bet for viewing the parade is to stake out a spot anywhere along Broadway--get there early. The three-hour parade features floats and more than 50 marching bands and pipe bands from Ireland and across the United States. For more information, call 781-436-3377.
Other Parades in Massachusetts
St. Patrick's Day parades are also held in the Massachusetts towns of Abington (March 18), Scituate (March 18), Worcester (March 11) and Holyoke (March 18), as well as in Yarmouth on Cape Cod (March 10). The Boston Irish Tourism Association has details.
Wear Your Green
Wear your green on Friday night, March 9, as the Boston Celtics take on the Portland Trail Blazers at the TD Garden. Find tickets.
Irish Film Festival
Can't get to Boston until later in the month? You can still celebrate the city's Irish heritage at the 13th annual Boston Irish Film Festival, which runs March 22-25.
Did You Know...
Boston has its own 20-site Irish Heritage Trail. It was first described in a book titled Guide to the New England Irish by Michael P. Quinlin, Colette Minogue Quinlin and Colene M. Minogue. That book is now out of print, but the Trail is also described in Michael Quinlin's Irish Boston: A Lively Look at Boston's Colorful Irish History (Compare Prices). Maps are available at the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau's Boston Common Visitor Center and at the Prudential Center Visitor Information Center.
So you wanna know where you can find corned beef and cabbage in Boston?
Durgin Park near Faneuil Hall is known for its traditional New England Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinners. Call 617-227-2038 for a serving schedule.
Keep in mind that Boston Restaurant Week begins on March 18 this year, so you'll be able to enjoy great dining deals, as well, if you're visiting the city during St. Patrick's Day weekend.
Cook Up Your Own Irish Feast
If you're celebrating St. Patrick's Day at home, I've compiled a great collection of Irish recipes from New England.
The Boston Irish Tourism Association has a round-up of more Irish Exhibits and Events in Massachusetts throughout the month of March. And while you're driving around in Boston, tune in WROL Irish Hit Parade Radio at 950 AM on your dial.
Need a hotel room in Boston? Compare Boston hotel rates at kayak.com.
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