Around New England

Boston Mayor Cancels St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Cites Coronavirus

March 10, 2020

The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in South Boston scheduled for Sunday, March 15 has been cancelled.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced the decision on the evening of Monday, March 9, saying it stems from “an abundance of caution” over the spread of coronavirus:

Boston's St. Patrick's Day Parade, scheduled for 3/15/20, is being cancelled. This decision is being made out of an abundance of caution to ensure that we are doing what is needed to keep the residents of Boston safe and healthy. pic.twitter.com/JzO9v4LZHH

— Mayor Marty Walsh (@marty_walsh) March 9, 2020

The parade has been a source of conflict over the last several years. Parade organizers have allowed groups affirming homosexuality to march, at the insistence of the mayor, who put pressure on them to do so.

Walsh. who lives in Dorchester, has also sought to move the parade from South Boston to another part of the city, and has on occasion sought to truncate the parade route.

The annual St. Patrick’s Day brunch in South Boston, which draws local politicians in a combination of roasts and music and usually takes place the morning of the parade, has also been cancelled.