Looking for free food, free entertainment and Guinness beer, Bostonians turned out in droves for the city’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The weekends festivities included a gathering Saturday at City Hall and a parade Sunday on Broadway in South Boston.
“I heard Boston was the place to be on St. Patrick’s Day,” said Matt Bazar, a Syracuse, N.Y., resident visiting friends in Boston. “I’m down here trying to get into the bars.”
“It’s a great time — the sun came out just in time,” said parade-goer Terry Groden of Cambridge.
On an almost perfect Boston Saturday, Government Center was filled with good ol’ Irish spirit for the City Hall celebration.
Director of Special Events and Tourism Cecily Foster was happy with the turnout.
“The celebration has really been a huge success,” Foster said. “This is the most crowded we’ve ever seen it, probably about 4,000 people.”
The celebration, which is sponsored by Mayor Thomas Menino, is in its eighth year and has always been completely open to the public, according to Foster. Kells of Brighton provided free traditional Boston and Irish food and, of course, Guinness, while the Green O’Leary Irish Step Dancers performed. Traditional Irish music also serenaded visitors.
The celebration, which took over the entire first floor of City Hall, was a great attraction for families. Children were entertained by balloon animals, face painting, a display by the New England Aquarium and a huge inflatable slide set up in front of City Hall.
Quincy resident Frank Maloney, attending with his wife, thought the city did a great job with the celebration.
“We were here last year, and a lot more people are here this year. We saw the mayor and his wife with their grandkids earlier. Just a really great time,” Maloney said.
“We only had one problem, and it’s a great problem to have. We’ve almost outgrown the location,” Foster said.
The adult crowd swarmed Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall, hitting the bar scene. Bazar and his friends were completely in the spirit, with Bazar sporting lime green pants, a green-checkered jacket and a green hat.
His only complaint?
“I thought more people would be wearing green,” he said.
Police and fire sirens signaled the start of the annual parade Sunday in South Boston. Six fire trucks and five emergency vehicles cruised down the street as onlookers applauded. On the truck from Boston Firefighters Local 718, men raised fists, whistled and shouted. Boston EMS, Park Rangers and MBTA police also participated in the parade.
Kids sat in front of the sidewalks on yaffa blocks, while their parents stood behind them.
“It’s a good time to get together with the family, relive past traditions and kick off the spring season,” said Steve Dailey of Dedham.
Dailey has been to the parade dozens of times, and this year he brought his 3-year-old son for the first time.
Those that came early were lucky to get a front row view of the parade, while those that came later complained about some moms not letting other kids in front of their children.
“I would like a front row seat, but I guess it’s crowded this year,” said Mary Groden of Cambridge.
McGruff the Crime Dog sat in a barrow attached to a police car and waved to the audience. Policeman on horseback followed, carrying American and Irish flags.
A Merlin look-alike dressed in a green and white costume, long gray beard and a green and white pope’s hat sat in the back of a truck along with several children. Elmo and a juggling unicyclist also had kids smiling and pointing.
Men dressed in kilts played Irish music with pipes and drums. The Queen’s University Pipe Band from Ontario, Canada, dressed in red plaid kilts and red sweaters also marched. Their mascot, a black bear, sported a red beret.
Promotion of various local politicians, including Rep. Joe Moakley (D-Mass.), state Sen. Stephen Lynch (D-Suffolk), Suffolk County Sheriff Richard Rouse and City Councilor James Kelly (South Boston, Chinatown, South End), stimulated applause from the audience.
Many local organizations marched in the parade to promote their causes, including the Martin E. McDonough Post 368 Ladies Auxiliary who reminded parade-goers never to forget the 46 men from Massachusetts who are still missing-in-action in Southeast Asia.
“I think it’s neat how excited and committed the community is,” said Jennifer Becker of Arizona. She came to visit a friend for St. Patrick’s weekend.
Vendors blanketed the sidewalks selling green flowers, green aliens, green rabbit foot key chains and small Irish flags.
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