


Bostonians showed out for a beautiful, warm Bunker Hill Day Parade early Sunday afternoon, remembering the historic day with rounds of marching bands, costumed paraders and community support.
“I like the bands and the music,” said 10-year-old Charlestown native Jessie Grey thoughtfully, standing with her family and clutching a flag at her second Bunker Hill Parade. “And the candy.”
The parade, held annually in Charlestown since the 1800s, kicked off at 12:30 p.m. at the intersection of Vine and Bunker Hill Streets and wound around to Winthrop Street by the Charlestown Militia Training Field.
The day celebrates the Battle Bunker Hill, also known as the Battle of Breed’s Hill, during the Revolutionary War, a key point — though a loss — for the American troops. The parade “traces its roots to the earliest commemorations of the 1775 battle and celebrations of the Charlestown community after the town was rebuilt,” according to the National Parks Service.
On Sunday, a wide array of organizations and people marched along in the historic celebration, from political figures like Mayor Michelle Wu, to many marching bands and historical groups, to a Santa Sleigh and array of clowns.
Locals and families cheered from the sidelines along the route, camped in lawn chairs and decked out in red, white and blue. Several toddlers wore ear protection as shots from historical rifles cracked through the air and brass bands rumbled by.
“We’re proud of our history here,” said Sam Davis, a Charlestown resident. … “You can see how much people care.”