Beantown is well known for its hearty Irish population, so it's no surprise that St. Patrick's Day is a big celebration here. The city's annual parade brings one million people to South Boston (colloquially known as "Southie), where you'll find elaborate floats, pipe and drum bands, and more. The parade also commemorates "Evacuation Day," when British troops evacuated Boston on March 17, 1776. Enjoy Irish step dance performances and other free events at Faneuil Hall Marketplace throughout the day, or, alternatively, participate in the Official Boston St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl, which takes you through some of the city's best bars.