Posted 07/27/2025 in Boston Questions

10 Things to Do in Boston in March, From the Parade to Museum Days


10 Things to Do in Boston in March, From the Parade to Museum Days

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Massachusetts State House golden dome seen through its iron gate
Photo: Agathe Beitz (Cornleo) via Google

The biggest thing to do in Boston in March is the South Boston St. Patrick's Day and Evacuation Day Parade, set for Sunday, March 14, 2027, at 11:30 a.m. Around it, March is a month for indoor Boston: the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Aquarium and the Museum of Science, Irish pubs, Celtics and Bruins games, and the last days of skating on the Frog Pond.

Pack for winter. Much of March is cold and raw, snow is still possible, and the Public Garden's flowers and Swan Boats wait until April. One correction to older guides: the Boston Flower and Garden Show, once a March fixture at the Seaport World Trade Center, has not been held since 2020, so skip any list that still puts it first.

10 things to do in Boston in March

1. The South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade

Meet Boston lists the 2027 parade for Sunday, March 14, starting at 11:30 a.m. It marches through South Boston, and the Red Line's Broadway and Andrew stations serve the neighborhood. Expect very large crowds and closed streets; arrive early and travel by T.

2. Evacuation Day, March 17

Boston has its own reason to celebrate on March 17: Evacuation Day marks the British departure from Boston in 1776, and it is a holiday in Suffolk County, which includes the city. It shares the date with St. Patrick's Day, which is why the parade carries both names.

3. An Irish pub night

Boston's Irish pub scene is busiest in March. The Black Rose on State Street, near Faneuil Hall, has been an Irish pub since 1976 and schedules live Irish music every night of the year.

4. The last of the skating on the Frog Pond

The Frog Pond on Boston Common is an outdoor rink in winter, but the season ends early in March; in 2026 the last skating day was March 10. Check the Frog Pond website before you go.

5. The Museum of Fine Arts

The MFA's collection of nearly 500,000 works runs from ancient Egypt and Nubia to contemporary art, enough for a full cold day indoors on Huntington Avenue in the Fenway.

6. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

On Evans Way in the Fenway, the Gardner is the house-museum one collector built for her paintings, sculpture and textiles, opened in 1903. Its glass-roofed courtyard garden flowers all year, the closest thing to spring color in March.

7. The New England Aquarium

The New England Aquarium on Central Wharf is a reliable rainy-day plan, built around the four-story Giant Ocean Tank. It is at Aquarium station on the Blue Line.

8. The Museum of Science

The Museum of Science sits on the Charles River Dam at Science Park and fills a day with hands-on exhibits, a planetarium and a domed theater, a good choice for families.

9. A Celtics or Bruins game

March falls in the regular season for both the Celtics and the Bruins, who share TD Garden above North Station.

10. Warm food downtown

Cold weather suits chowder and oysters at Union Oyster House, which has served food on Union Street since 1826, or a browse through the indoor stalls of Boston Public Market. If your trip is in the first week of March, Dine Out Boston, the city's restaurant week, runs February 20 to March 7, 2027, with set-price menus at participating restaurants.

What is the weather like in Boston in March?

Still mostly winter. Expect cold, damp days, wind off the harbor and the chance of snow, with milder days more likely late in the month. Waterproof shoes matter more than a heavy coat on the brick sidewalks. Indoor plans, like the Boston Public Library in Copley Square, make good backups.

What is not open yet in March

Several warm-weather favorites start later. The Swan Boats in the Public Garden open in April (the 2026 season began April 18), and the fast ferry to Provincetown began its 2026 season on May 16; see our guide to the bus from Boston to Cape Cod for options that run all year.

Provincetown Fast Ferry tickets

Planning other months

For April and May, read things to do in Boston in the spring; for the coldest months, things to do in Boston in January and our winter guide.

Frequently asked questions

Q. When is the Boston St. Patrick's Day parade in 2027?+
Meet Boston lists the South Boston St. Patrick's Day and Evacuation Day Parade for Sunday, March 14, 2027, starting at 11:30 a.m.
Q. What is Evacuation Day in Boston?+
March 17 marks the day in 1776 when British troops left Boston. It is a holiday in Suffolk County, which includes Boston, and falls on St. Patrick's Day.
Q. Is March a good time to visit Boston?+
It is a good month for museums, sports, theater and the St. Patrick's Day parade, but expect cold, damp weather and possible snow. Outdoor seasonal attractions such as the Swan Boats do not open until April.
Q. Can you ice skate on the Frog Pond in March?+
Only early in the month. The Boston Common rink closes for the season in early March; in 2026 its last skating day was March 10. Check the Frog Pond website before you go.
Q. Is the Boston Flower and Garden Show still held?+
No. The show, once held each March at the Seaport World Trade Center, has not been staged since 2020.
Q. When is Dine Out Boston?+
The winter edition of Dine Out Boston, the city's restaurant week, runs February 20 to March 7, 2027, according to Meet Boston.
Q. What are the best indoor things to do in Boston in March?+
The Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the New England Aquarium, the Museum of Science and the Boston Public Library are all good choices on a cold or wet day.
Q. Do the Swan Boats run in March?+
No. The Swan Boats in the Public Garden open in April; the 2026 season began on April 18.

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