Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Excitement ramped up throughout the city as hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Southie for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
“It’s my favorite day of the year,” one attendee at the festival told WBZ NewsRadio. “Everyone’s showing our Bostonian pride for Ireland.”
City Councilors made some major changes ahead of the celebration to curb rowdy behavior and underage drinking. Those changes included an earlier start time of the parade and more police presence along the route.
“I honestly think it’s better because last year there was a lot of people getting arrested and a lot of fights,” one woman said but added some skepticism of the effectiveness.
“There’s only so much they can do because it is Boston full of teenager,” she added. “What can you do really?”
Officials said they expect nearly a million people at the parade.
Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
WBZ NewsRadio's Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.