St. Patrick's Day Parade - Southie Style

Today was Boston's famous St. Patrick's Day Parade. People from Ireland come to this, it's that legit. Most of the groups marching are local, but we saw a few from greater New England and New York City. They don't dye the Charles River green, but they do have about 600,000 people wearing green within a 5 mile section of Broadway.


These people are getting off the T with us. Some are sober, some won't know the meaning of that word until tomorrow morning.

Irish flags abound in Southie, Boston's Irish neighborhood.

Where else in America would you find a mural that says, "Ireland unfree will never be at peace."

We made the epic journey with our friends Peter and Laura. Don't we all look festive?

The parade begins with mounted police, which coincidentally are being disbanded due to budget cuts.

Lots of men in kilts playing pipes. A truly amazing sound. Most of these "pipes and drums" bands are police and fireman units throughout Mass.

I thought this was the Wells Fargo dudes that they have at all the SeaFair parades, but alas it was not.

More pipes and drums.

The famous DUCKS.

If you weren't marching with bagpipes, chances are you were in period costume with a musket, many of which were fired every 50 feet or so. So awesome.

These old men were adorable. The Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick from New Bedford, MA.

No parade is complete without firetrucks, especially in Boston.

One big bagpipe band leader.

Of course Guinness was there.

Leaving the parade, a sea of green.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!