Local news
Dozens of “borgs,” or gallons of mixed liquor, were confiscated on Broadway in the first half-hour of the celebration.
A woman pours champagne into the mouth of a member of the El Segundo Fire Department during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in South Boston, Massachusetts, March 15, 2026. (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe)
Seventeen people were arrested at a St. Patrick’s Day parade in South Boston, police said, as authorities cracked down on public drinking at the event that typically draws nearly a million people to the neighborhood.
As of 7 p.m., 17 people had been arrested during or near the parade, Boston police said. A police spokesman said they could not comment on specific charges or provide any police reports.
The parade, which started at 11:30 a.m., took a different route this year, starting in Andrew Square instead of ending there, parade organizer the Allied Veterans Council announced last month. The modified route, which included a detour to honor the 250th Evacuation Day, was also expected to improve crowd flow.
The MBTA expected approximately 1 million people to attend the parade, and ran shuttle buses from South Station to South Boston and skipped Broadway Station “during certain times due to heavy crowds.”
As part of a crackdown on public drinking, MBTA transit police confiscated at least dozens of gallons of liquid, according to a photo the agency shared on
On Sunday, traffic police shared photos of the busy Broadway station.
Residents complain about underage drinking and general indecency
South Boston residents filed complaints about show attendees to 311 people, including a large party, underage drinking, and public indecency. At 3:30 p.m., a neighbor on E Second Street reported A Big party With loud music, city officials 311 referred the situation to the police.
Another report said:Underage drinkers have ruined the track with empties and other litter“On First Street.
Another report asked police to respond to the alley near 64 Telegraph Street to “stop all public indecency” including “people constantly urinating on our property.” The 311 report said they notified officers who said they were responding to other incidents, the resident wrote.
Another 311 report including Image of people on the roof of a buildingwhich referred 311 to the Boston Fire Department.
Officials in Boston had promised to launch a crackdown after last year’s weekend witnessed incidents of violence and chaos. Earlier this weekend, officials warned that drinking in public would not be tolerated and warned partygoers of rising rates of drinking.
Last year, 11 people were arrested — 13 facing charges — stemming from conduct on the show including public drinking, possession of alcohol as a minor, destruction of property, disorderly conduct, assault and battery, resisting arrest, QuarrelDisturbing the peace and assaulting and battery on a police officer.
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