Sen. Forry hosts pre-parade breakfast on March 19

State Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry will host the traditional St. Patrick’s Day breakfast at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center on Sun., March 19. The event, which doubles as a political roast and pre-parade celebration of Irish-American culture, will be televised live on New England Cable News beginning at 10 a.m.

It is the fourth consecutive year that Sen. Forry— elected in 2013— will host the event, which features a line-up of state elected officials, including US Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, Gov. Charlie Baker, Mayor Martin Walsh, Congressman Stephen F. Lynch, and Rep. Nick Collins, among many others. A crowd of about 600 is expected for the breakfast, which features live music, a full breakfast, and a wide range of attempts at humor by the state’s leading politicians.

The breakfast serves as a warm-up for South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade, organized by the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council. The route will follow its traditional course from West Broadway near Broadway Station deep into Southie. After moving along East Broadway, it will turn south on P Street and reverse course, heading past Thomas Park and on down Dorchester Street to end near Andrew Station.

If all goes as planned, participants should line up along Dorchester Avenue by 11 a.m., with the parade set to kick off at 1 p.m. NECN’s live coverage of the parade will air from 12:30-3 p.m.