2026 St. Patrick’s Day Route will Reverse This Year – Get the details and little history lesson
In honor of America’s 250th Birthday, the Allied War Veterans will change the St. Patrick’s Day Parade route, starting at Andrew Square instead of Broadway Station. Technically, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is actually a celebration of Evacuation Day in the City of Boston. On March 17, 1776, a ragtag group of Minute Men and soldiers drove the British out of Boston, ending a brutal 11-month occupation and marking a key Revolutionary War victory.
An important part of this victory was Henry Knox and his “noble train of artillery.” Knox, a 25-year-old Boston bookseller and American revolutionary, reported to General George Washington in Cambridge that he and his volunteers had just transported 59 cannons and artillery 300 miles, from Fort Ticonderoga in New York to eastern Massachusetts, in the dead of winter.
Knox eventually guided the cannons up to Dorchester Heights (from what would be Andrew Square up Telegraph Street) and aimed them at the British fleet in Boston Harbor during the American Revolution. When British General Howe saw the artillery at Dorchester Heights, the British troops said, “To hell with this,” and evacuated Boston on March 17th.
Check out the route below:
- Begin at Andrew Square, straight up Dorchester Street
- Right on Telegraph Street
- Right at Thomas Park
- left on G Street
- right on Sixth Street
- left on K Street
- Right on Fourth Street
- left on P Street
- left on East Broadway
- bear right onto West Broadway
- Right on A Street
(Before A Street, 18-wheelers will exit straight down Broadway, exiting the parade.)
On a side note – back in the day, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade would reverse direction every year.
Maureen Dahill is the founder of Caught in Media. Once a longtime wardrobe and prop stylist for brands such as Rue La La, TJ Max & Hasbro, she is a devoted lover of vintage clothing, Martini Mondays, Castle Island, AND a 4th generation South Boston native. Mother of three, married to Peter G.
Dorchester Street does not intersect with Thomas Park! Not possible to go that route! Some other Street must be between these two! Which one????
We just updated! Telegraph Hill! Good catch!
Everett is it ending? is the parade going down west Broadway? is it ending at A St?
It ends at A – trucks will continue down West Broadway to exit parade.
Sixh Street is mentioned is that at the High School and it comes down 6th street?
yes, down sixth.
Sure brings back wonderful memories. We lived on M street and in 1952 my father was the parade’s Chief Marshal. The first Italian-American to lead the parade! Best wishes to everyone in Southie, my old hometown!