To Do This Weekend: Dorchester Day
The 2015 Dorchester Day parade. This year’s will be the 116th annual parade, canceled since 2020 by coronavirus health precautions. Photo courtesy of the Dorchester Day Parade Committee
To Do This Weekend: Dorchester Day
The celebration of Boston’s largest neighborhood
What?
Dorchester Day parade.
When?
Sunday, June 5, at 1 pm.
Where?
The parade starts in Lower Mills and concludes in Savin Hill.
The MBTA Red Line runs parallel to most of Dorchester Avenue. Shuttle buses will replace train service between Broadway and JFK/UMass this weekend because of track work, according to the MBTA.
How much?
Free.
Why should I go?
Every year, the first Sunday in June is dedicated to celebrating a particular special Boston community. Referred to as “God’s country” by CNN journalist and native John King, Dorchester is the city’s largest neighborhood, and its residents show their hometown pride on Dorchester Day alongside businesses, bands, and public officials, all of whom take to the streets for festivities.
This will be the 116th annual parade along a 3.2-mile stretch of Dorchester Avenue. Organized by the Dorchester Day Parade Committee, it begins at 1 pm at the Washington Street intersection and continues north to end at the corner of Columbia Road in Savin Hill. This year’s celebration returns after being canceled since 2020 by the pandemic.
The parade day is typically busy for residents, who often host parties with friends and family at their homes along Dorchester Avenue before, during, and after the parade. Local businesses remain open, patronized by the large crowds gathered along the route.
Marching in the parade will be the Boston Police Department, the Boston Fire Department, musical groups—including the Westbrook Drum Corps and the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps—and nonprofits like the Vietnamese-American Community of Massachusetts.
Among politicians, US Representative Ayanna Pressley (Hon.’21), City Councilors At-Large Erin Murphy and Frank Baker, and Mayor Michelle Wu are all on the lineup. Maura Healey, the state attorney general and Democratic candidate for governor, will also attend.
Traditionally, a Chief Grand Marshal is chosen to serve as an honorary head figure for the events. Luigi “Lou” Pasquale, a veteran of World War II, holds this year’s honor after being unanimously voted for the job in 2020 and waiting two years for a parade to preside over. Chief Grand Marshals are selected for their exemplary work in the community.
Local elected officials often help fundraise alongside residents for the parade and for smaller events held on days leading up to Sunday. On Saturday, the Ashmont Adams Neighborhood Association is hosting Dorchfest, when 45 musical groups will perform on the porches of 25 homes spread out in the Ashmont-Adams neighborhood.
Comments & Discussion
Boston University moderates comments to facilitate an informed, substantive, civil conversation. Abusive, profane, self-promotional, misleading, incoherent or off-topic comments will be rejected. Moderators are staffed during regular business hours (EST) and can only accept comments written in English. Statistics or facts must include a citation or a link to the citation.