A celebration of the neighborhood’s Irish heritage as well as a nod to Boston’s revolutionary past, the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in South Boston is one of the oldest, and largest, events of its kind in the country. Taking place on March 18, the Sunday closest to the actual holiday, the grand procession of marching bands, colorful floats, local politicians, veterans groups, Minutemen in period garb (March 17 is also Evacuation Day, which commemorates the driving of the British from Beantown in 1776) and more begins near the MBTA Red Line’s Broadway stop at 1 p.m. It then makes its way through the neighborhood down West and East Broadway before winding through Southie via Telegraph Hill, eventually concluding near Andrew Square. This is an eagerly anticipated celebration for the Irish and Irish-at-heart, so join the thousands of green-clad revelers and salute the patron saint of Ireland in style.