13 facing charges after South Boston St. Patrick’s Day parade

Thirteen people are facing charges in connection with incidents at this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in South Boston, according to the Boston Police Department.

Sunday’s parade was a celebratory occasion for many Bostonians, but it wasn’t without incident. This year’s event began at at 11:30 a.m., an hour and a half earlier than usual, in an effort to avoid the rowdiness of last year’s celebration, which drew record crowds of about 1 million people and led to 11 arrests.

Nine people were arrested Sunday, and four people were summoned to South Boston District Court, Officer Michael Torigian told Boston.com.

The various charges that the 12 adults and one juvenile are facing range from drinking in public, being a minor in possession of alcohol, destruction of property, disorderly conduct, assault and battery, resisting arrest, affray, disturbing the peace, and assault and battery on a police officer, Torigian said.

Officers also confiscated alcohol, including a large number of “blackout rage gallons,” or “borgs” due to underage and public drinking.

Officers Working the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Seized Alcohol Due to Underage and Public Drinking https://t.co/ZVapPEN3Yu pic.twitter.com/tjc542diob

— Boston Police Dept. (@bostonpolice) March 16, 2025

“As the day continues, we thank the vast majority of those celebrating today for doing so in a safe and appropriate way,” police said in a statement. “We continue to ask those attending or out celebrating in our City to refrain from unlawful behavior and to respect the neighborhoods where you are celebrating.”

Police shared several photos of the seized “borgs,” including one with dozens of the drinks lined up on the steps of the South Boston division of Boston Municipal Court. MBTA Transit Police also shared a photo of confiscated alcohol in a post on X.

Some of the alcohol confiscated by TPD officers. pic.twitter.com/KmSv3cXJXg

— MBTA Transit Police (@MBTATransitPD) March 16, 2025

South Boston residents complain of public urination, drunkenness

Several South Boston residents reported rowdy behavior to 311, Boston’s non-emergency service line, for noise complaints, underage drinking, and one instance of public urination.

“Where is the transit police presence at the T? North Station is a madhouse right now and feels very unsafe,” one complaint said. “People (teenagers) are screaming, hollering and running through the station, clearly not sober. St Patty’s Day is a very chaotic day and there is typically extra security… I’m not seeing any.”

“Under age drinking and public urination I thought they were supposed to crack down on all of these for the parade this year,” another complainant wrote. “There is literally 15 cops at the top of Athens street not stopping any of this.”