St. Patrick's Day falls on a Sunday in 2013, and the city has festivities planned leading up to and during the holiday weekend. St. Patrick's Day draws more than 600,000 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 1-2 featuring food vendors selling corned beef and more, a cash bar (you'll want to try the Celtic Red) 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 on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, and they're on stage at the TD Center in Boston on March 15, as well as at the Brighton Music Hall in Allston, Massachusetts, on March 16.
A Little Bit of Ireland
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with the Reagle Players as they present A Little Bit of Ireland March 15-17 at the Reagle Music Theatre in Waltham. Buy tickets online, or call 781-891-5600.
Irish Cultural Centre St. Patrick's Celebration
On Saturday and Sunday, March 16 and 17, head to the Irish Cultural Centre of New England for a St. Patrick's Day Celebration, which kicks off Saturday at 1 p.m. with corned beef and cabbage and non-stop music by Irish bands and continues Sunday with a hearty Irish breakfast at 7 a.m. and traditional food, live Irish music, games and Irish step dancing into the evening. Admission is $10 for those 13 and up 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. Two special exhibits are currently on view: In Her Voice: Jacqueline Kennedy, The White House Years and the Freedom 7 Space Capsule. On Saturday, March 16, the JFK Library hosts a performance by the Greene-O'Leary School of Irish Dancing. 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 600,000 to 1 million people who'll turn out for this year's 112th St. Patrick's Day Parade in South Boston. The parade steps off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 17, 2013 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 two-and-a-half-hour parade features floats and dozens of 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 17), Scituate (March 17), Worcester (March 10) and Holyoke (March 17), as well as in Yarmouth on Cape Cod (March 9). The Boston Irish Tourism Association has details.
Wear Your Green
Wear your green on Saturday night, March 16, as the Boston Celtics take on the Charlotte Bobcats at the TD Garden or on Monday, March 18, when Boston's team plays the NBA champions, the Miami Heat. Find tickets.
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 Past (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 17 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.
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