Boston has a little something for everyone when it comes to celebrations and holidays, but none tops St. Patrick’s Day. Whether you’re new to the city or a long-time resident looking for new experiences, St. Paddy’s has it all– even if you don’t like to drink. Why Boston?
For those uninitiated, Boston has a massive Irish population (about 23% of its citizens identify as Irish!). Originally emigrating from persecution in the colonial era, Boston’s had a long-standing history of Irish origin. Immigrants escaping the potato famine in the 19th century further built the Irish population, and Boston quickly became a hub for Irish Americans. Things To Do on St. Patrick’s Day So, what can you do on St. Patrick’s Day in Boston? We’ve got 5 great ideas for you to get the most out of our rich Irish culture. The Southie Parade and Road Race Whether or not you are Irish, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Road Race are great ways to celebrate Irish heritage and enjoy the area. This is a fun activity, away from the familiarity of the slides and swings at the playground, that children will enjoy. This year, the parade and the road race take place on Sunday, March 19th. The parade starts at 1 pm, and the road race starts at noon. Both events are on a first-come-first-serve basis, so be sure to grab yourself a good spot by getting there early! While you are there, be a good neighbor and shop local. Visit the local drug store, gift shop, bakery or book store and buy a little souvenir or whatever. If you want to run in the race, we recommend registering early. All proceeds from the Southie St. Patrick’s Day Road Race go towards the Boston Boys and Girls Club. Enjoy Irish Culture If you’re not too keen on parades and would rather enjoy some more traditional Irish celebration, why not check out some traditional Irish dance and enjoy some Celtic music? Enjoy some music, food, and drink any day of the week during Lansdowne Pub’s St. Patrick’s Week, or catch some traditional Irish music at The Burren. If you’re looking for dance, Ned Devine’s hosts step dancers at 1 pm. Be sure to wear green — some Boston dry cleaners in the North End may offer special discounts for dry cleaning or alterations for your green costume. Get Some Traditional Irish Food It’s not Paddy’s without some good Irish food and a Guinness! Boston’s extensive selection of traditional Irish pubs offers some of the best Irish food you can get in the States, and enjoying a pint with a good meal is essential on St. Patrick’s Day! Alongside great entertainment, sit and relax with some great food and beer from Lansdowne Pub, The Black Rose, The Kinsale, or J.J. Foley’s Cafe. Alternatively, you can organize a cookout in the backyard, weather permitting. A propane heater might be needed. Explore Heritage Trails For a calmer daytime experience, Boston’s Irish Heritage Trail celebrates the city’s rich Irish history and provides a beautiful scenic experience bound to enchant anyone looking for a relaxing stroll through time. Visit Irish monuments, buildings, and other historic locations on a guided tour, or walk the city yourself to peruse each location at your own pace. It’s perfect for those with senior loved ones — rather than hiring home care services, you can take your elderly loved one to a walk down memory lane. Tours cost roughly $15 for adults and $12 for students, children, and seniors. Stop by a Celtics Game Of course, it wouldn’t be Paddy’s in Boston without celebrating our local basketball team– the Celtics! While St. Patrick’s Day games are usually sold out, feel free to enjoy a game any time of the year to show off your inner Celtic spirit. Just make sure you wear plenty of green! With a pandemic raging, the last couple of years have been some of the strangest in modern times. From school and work closures to the banning of large gatherings, people have not been able to socialize and have fun! With people getting back to work and school, what better way to get back into the swing of things than to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Parades are a traditional way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Boston’s traditional St. Patrick’s Day parade is back for 2022 on March 20th at 1:00 pm. If you can’t make it to the parade, why not do a celebration of your own? Here are a few things you can do! Take It Outside
Invite some guests for a backyard BBQ. Don’t forget to make sure you have a full propane tank for your grill! If you want to serve traditional Irish food, make some corned beef and cabbage or beef stew. It’s also fun to make as many green foods as you can, like green soda bread, cookies, cupcakes, candy, etc. Serve a great Irish beer like Guinness and your St Paddy’s party would be perfect! Make sure to have some digestive aids on hand for the next morning! Green Balloons Helium balloons are always a crowd-pleaser. Get yourself a helium tank and some green balloons for the St. Patrick’s Day decorations. Attach the green balloons to the mailbox, a post in the yard, and even in the house. Balloons always create a festive atmosphere and once the party guests arrive, don’t forget to play some Irish music. Have a Park Party for the Kids Kids always love to play on the swings and slides at the park. Even if you’re not Irish, you can still load up on some green snacks and drinks, bring a few green balloons, and dress yourself and your kids in green tee shirts for an impromptu St. Patrick’s Day party at the park playground. While the kids rest after playing, pass the snacks around and tell them the story of St Patrick: St. Patrick lived during the fifth century and is the patron saint of Ireland. Although he was born in Roman Britain, he was captured and taken as a slave to Ireland. The Catholic Church credits St. Patrick with bringing Christianity to Ireland. There are several legends surrounding St. Patrick. One of the most well-known is how he taught the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of the Shamrock (Irish Clover). When is St. Patrick’s Day? People celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th — the day of St. Patrick’s death. Although the celebration falls in Lent, the Church waives the requirement for abstinence from meat if the day falls on a Friday. Amid the not-so-perfect weather of March, St. Patrick’s Day offers a fun respite from the dreary days of the pandemic. Do take advantage of it! St. Patrick’s Day is typically an occasion that calls for big parades and parties in the streets. But since most of us have still not received vaccinations against COVID-19, social distancing is still vital — which means this St. Paddy’s Day will feel a little different. There can still be plenty of fun, safe ways to celebrate the luck o’ the Irish! Here are a few ideas.
1. Plan a Camping Trip With the weather growing warmer, this is the perfect time to plan a camping trip. Buy some sunscreen at the pharmacy, as you can sunburn even when it’s cloudy. Bring along a propane tank and a small grill, and enjoy a weekend in the woods. Here are a few fun ways to work a St. Patrick’s Day theme into your camping trip:
2. Have a Costume Party on Zoom Have everyone in the family make their own St. Patrick’s Day costume. You can dress up like leprechauns, rainbows, pots of gold, or even as a cabbages! Host a family Zoom call so everyone can admire each other’s customers from a safe distance. You could even have a costume content. Reward the winner with some Irish tea or a Guinness (depending on age). 3. Bake Green Cupcakes This is the perfect St. Patrick’s Day activity for families with kids. Mix up a vanilla cake mix according to package instructions, but add about a half teaspoon of green food coloring to the batter. Bake and cool the cupcakes, then top them with green frosting. You can also make green cookies and green soda simply by adding a few drops of food coloring. 4. Practice Irish Dancing Irish dancing is lively, lighthearted, and fun — just what we all need right now! Look up some Irish dancing routines on YouTube, and do your best to follow along. It’s okay if you don’t master the steps. The goal is to have fun. Hopefully we’ve inspired you to have some safe St. Paddy’s Day fun during these unusual times. At the end of the day, don’t sweat the cleanup. Save time by using a laundry delivery service, and revel in the luck and joy of the Irish a little longer. |
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