Only a few days remain before spring break, and getting as far away as possible from chilly Boston is undoubtedly the first thought on the minds of most Jumbos. But before hopping on that plane to the tropical destination of your choice, it's time to pay a little homage to St. Pat. With a rich Irish tradition and a penchant for cozy pubs, Boston is the place to be on St. Patrick's Day. So, today, take advantage of the city's Celtic history, put on your greenest shirt and go grab a Guinness. Hey … you're one-eighth Irish, right?
City of Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade
Sunday, March 20, 1 p.m.
Boston's parade might not feature a green river like the annual Chicago parade, but it does have an equally impressive history. Perhaps the oldest St. Patrick's Day tradition in Boston, the annual Southie St. Patrick's Day Parade celebrates both the Irish holiday and Evacuation Day, a holiday that commemorates the evacuation of British troops from the city in 1776. Today, the festivities take place in South Boston and loop around Dorchester Heights, the very spot on which the Continental Army perched with their cannons and weaponry as the British were forced out. The parade will feature military units, politicians and marching bands, as well as clowns and television characters for the younger crowd.
Irish Pubs
There's no better time or place to enjoy a drink in the middle of the afternoon than on St. Patrick's Day in Boston. For senior Cady Macon, this last opportunity to spend the big day in Beantown is not to be missed out on.
"Last year I had an interview on St. Patrick's Day," she said. "When I went into the office at two, they were hanging up decorations. When I left at four, I saw two kegs of Guinness."
This time around, Macon, who plans to go downtown for the celebration, made sure she would be free.
"I've never gone out in Boston for St. Patty's, so I deliberately switched my flight to Friday night this year," she said.
For one of the city's rowdier celebrations, hop on the T and head to Faneuil Hall. From Kitty O'Shea's to Ned Devine's, it doesn't take more than a glance at the signs to realize that the bars lining the old marketplace and surrounding streets are almost entirely Irish. McFadden's (148 State Street) will open at 8 a.m. with a free Irish Breakfast Buffet. The first 200 guests to arrive will receive free T-shirts, and patrons will have the chance to participate in contests throughout the day. The Black Rose (160 State Street) will also offer an Irish breakfast and will be giving away tickets to that night's sold out Dropkick Murphys show at the Paradise Rock Club and Lounge.
If you're not up for venturing all the way downtown, Davis Square offers plenty of equally attractive options. Sligo Pub (237 Elm Street) is the ultimate Irish dive bar, and The Burren (247 Elm Street) will open at 6 a.m. on the big day for a full Irish breakfast followed by traditional Irish music all day long.
Irish Heritage Trail
Although Boston's many pub owners might disagree, not every St. Patrick's Day celebration needs to revolve around green beer and Irish Car Bombs. The holiday provides the perfect occasion to learn a little more about the city's Irish heritage. The trail consists of a guide to Irish-American artists and other public figures from the 1700s to the present, and the path is divided into three sections consisting of sites in downtown Boston, in surrounding neighborhoods and those in cities outside of Boston. A walk through the city along the Irish Heritage Trail will truly expose you to Boston's immense Irish roots — even Fenway Park was built by a young Irish immigrant in 1881.
Irish Cuisine
Although Shamrock Shakes from McDonald's are enticing, they are certainly not the only festive foods one can indulge in on St. Patrick's Day. Most pubs in the city will be offering special Irish fare throughout the day.
Grafton Street Pub & Grill (1230 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA), named after a famous shopping district in Dublin and situated in the heart of Harvard Square, will be offering a special St. Patrick's Day menu alongside traditional Irish music.
"They will most likely have bagpipers come," Amelia Sutton, communications manager for Grafton Street Pub, said. "They will be serving the traditional Irish fare — corned beef and cabbage, shepherd's pie and a wild salmon."
Even less traditionally Irish restaurants are getting in on the fun. American restaurant 28 Degrees (1 Appleton Street, Boston, MA) in the South End will also be offering a special St. Patrick's Day menu on March 17. Diners at this South End eatery can enjoy Irish soda bread, traditional lamb stew and a decadent Bailey's cheesecake for dessert.
St. Patrick's Day 5K
Sunday, March 20, 11 a.m.
For those not wishing to blow their spring break diets at the last minute on heavy stews and even heavier beer, there are more active ways to spend the weekend. The St. Patrick's Day 5K in South Boston will begin prior to the annual parade, and all proceeds will go to the Boys & Girls Club of Boston.
Although she isn't Irish, senior Jillian Gruber is one Tufts student looking forward to the race. Gruber decided to spend her last day in Boston celebrating St. Patrick's Day in a more health-conscious way.
"I didn't get a spot in the President's Marathon Challenge, so I decided to keep a look out for other shorter races around town," she said. "The St. Patrick's Day 5K seemed like the perfect opportunity."
