Via BPD News:
The annual Caribbean Festival will be celebrated in the City of Boston this weekend. We want those who live in the neighborhoods impacted by these events, and those who are attending, to know what to expect and what is expected of them. There have been changes from prior years.
The City of Boston Transportation Department has issued a permit for the J’Ouvert and Caribbean Parades. This year’s J’ouvert Parade is in a new location, it will be exclusively on Circuit Drive in Franklin Park and will run from 6:00 -10:00 AM. The parade will assemble on Circuit Drive near the Shattuck Hospital and proceed along Circuit Drive toward Blue Hill Avenue. At its conclusion, ALL Music will be shut off at the Zoo Parking lot and the parade vehicles will disperse taking a right onto Blue Hill Ave. Circuit Drive will be closed to motor vehicle traffic and no parking will be available from late Friday night (after Zoo Lights closes) until Sunday morning.
Traffic will be impacted by the weekend events, please seek alternate routes when possible. In an effort to minimize disruption and promote community safety, traffic and parking restrictions will be imposed on feeder streets leading to the Caribbean Parade route. Warren Street will be closed from Dale St. to Blue Hill Ave. and Blue Hill Ave will be closed from Quincy Street to American Legion Highway. Traffic will be rerouted away from the parade route. The parade route will be lined with barriers.
The Caribbean Parade will begin forming at Martin Luther King Blvd. and Warren Street at 11:00 AM. The parade will step Off at 1:00 PM and end at 6:00 PM.
Officers assigned to traffic posts will redirect traffic away from the parade route. Outbound (West) vehicle traffic on Columbia Road will be rerouted at Geneva Avenue with all traffic being directed to turn left (South) onto Geneva Avenue towards Bowdoin Street. Traffic on Blue Hill Ave inbound will be directed to take a left on Harvard Ave. Traffic on Blue Hill Ave. outbound will be directed right onto Harvard St. At Blue Hill Avenue and American Legion Highway all traffic will be directed onto Blue Hill Avenue (South) towards Harvard St. Vehicle traffic on Columbus Avenue will be directed onto Walnut Avenue at the intersection of Columbus Avenue, Seaver Street, and Walnut Avenue. No vehicle traffic on Seaver Street towards Blue Hill Avenue.
Additional street closures include:
Walnut Ave. between Glen Road and Columbus Ave Closed except residents on Friday night at 9:00 PM until Sunday morning at 6:00AM
Talbot Ave. between Blue Hill Ave and Bernard St on Friday night at 11:59 PM until Sunday at 6:00AM
Circuit Drive between Morton St and Blue Hill Ave on Friday night at 11:00 PM until Sunday at 6:00 AM.
No planned closure for American Legion Highway but it will be closed as needed.
We will be cleaning and clearing the streets at the end of both parades on Saturday. After 6:00pm, there are no more events and there will be no loitering in the area. We will return the street to normal to serve the neighborhoods.
Late night and overnight activities will be limited and addressed by officers from our districts and specialized units. Weapons and violence are never tolerated in our City, neither will large or loud parties/gatherings. Revelers in speaker cars or off-road vehicles are not welcome and we will take notice. Please don’t beep horns, drive recklessly or play loud music in our neighborhoods. If residents or visitors – see something, please say something. Call 911. Do not hesitate, we are here to support you!
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
