The 29th Annual Greek Independence Day Parade of Boston will return on Sunday, April 27th, which will welcome nearly 100 registered Hellenic groups marching along Boston’s Boylston Street in commemoration of Greece’s independence from Ottoman Rule, which began on March 25, 1821.
This year’s parade, themed “Philhellenism and The Spirit of Greece” is presented again by the Federation of Hellenic-American Societies of New England (FHASNE), supported by the Mayor’s Office of Special Events and Tourism, and in cooperation with The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston (MBC) and The Consulate General of Greece in Boston.
The parade will kick off at 1:00pm at the intersection of Boylston Street and Exeter Street in front of The Lenox Hotel with the Boston Police and the Military Guards, who will present the USA and the Caryatids, who will present the Greek Flags followed by the Parade Dignitaries, Federation President, Grand & Honorary Grand Marshals and Elected Officials, who will conduct a ribbon cutting ceremony. The New England Evzones will follow, marching proudly as representatives of the Greek Army and will lead the rest of the parade down Boylston Street, featuring Greek dance troupes, local churches and universities, and more.
Parade Grand Marshals will include The Honorable Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas; The Honorable Mayor of Boston, Michelle Wu; His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios; and Consul General of Greece in Boston, Symeon Tegos. Parade Honorary Grand Marshals will include Chairman of The Asia Minor and Pontos Hellenic Research Center, John Davis; and Human Capital Director of the United States Navy, Elaine Rigas; and more.
Immediately following the parade, the Boston Common will transform into “Plaka,” Athens’ central square, with a Greek cultural celebration packed with Hellenic heritage. The New England Evzones and local Greek dance troupes will perform dances from all over Greece, while supporters will be encouraged to try their hand at Greek dancing and indulge in authentic Greek food which will be provided by Greek street trucks and vendors.
“The Annual Greek Independence Day Parade of Boston is returning this year after a record-breaking attendance last year,” says President of FHANSE, Eleni Vidalis. “We look forward to the Boston community walking with us again in celebration.”
Ways to get involved with The 29th Annual Greek Independence Day Parade of Boston include:
- PRE-PARADE DINNER GALA: FHASNE will also host its annual Dinner Gala, which will host hundreds of attendees, including dignitaries and political leaders from both the New England area and Greece, serving as a major fundraiser for the parade and future events. With tickets available at $175/each, the pre-parade annual Dinner Gala will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at Boston Quincy Marriott (Presidents Ballroom- 1000 Marriott Drive, Quincy MA 02169) beginning at 6:00pm. Live music will be provided by Orfeas Orchestra.
- SCHOLARSHIPS: FHASNE celebrates Hellenic heritage by sponsoring and organizing programs and activities that promote and preserve the values and ideals of our Hellenic culture thereby enriching our community and nation. FHASNE strives to be a beacon for the promotion, understanding, and appreciation of the Hellenic heritage in the United States, and pass on the stewardship of Greek heritage and shared democratic values and ideals to the next generation. This year, FHASNE will be offering $1,000 in the form of six scholarships available to eligible Hellenic American applicants currently residing in the United States of America. The deadline to apply for scholarships is March 21, 2025 and the scholarship applicants will be notified by March 31, 2025, and the scholarships will be presented during the Dinner Gala of the Federation on April 26, 2025. For more information on scholarships, visit https://hellenicfederationne.org/en/ova_doc/scholarships/.
- PARADE FLOAT APPLICATIONS: Parade Float applications are now available for a $200 registration fee until April 9, 2025. A Parade Order Drawing will take place on Monday, April 21, 2025 at 6:45pm at the Maliotis Cultural Center in Brookline, MA. For more information on parade float applications, please visit https://hellenicfederationne.org/en/ova_doc/participation-form/.
Former notable parade speakers and guests included Secretary General for Greeks Abroad & Public Diplomacy for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ioannis Chrysoulakis; Former Prime Minister of Greece, Konstantinos A. Karamanlis; Greek-American Singer, Maria Kalomoira Sarantis; Former Governor of Boston, Massachusetts, Michael S. Dukakis; Former Governor of Vermont; Howard B. Dean; Boston News Anchor, Maria Menounos; Legendary Boston TV News Anchor, Thomas C. Ellis; Former Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, Thomas M. Menino; and more.
New England is home to over 200,000 Greek Americans and over 60 Greek Orthodox parishes in the Metropolitan Area. To learn more about the Greek Independence Day Parade, please visit https://hellenicfederationne.org/en/.
About The Federation of Hellenic American Societies of New England (FHASNE):
The Federation of Hellenic American Societies of New England, founded in 1982, is the premier umbrella organization of over forty Hellenic-American associations, representing over thousands of individuals in the community. The Federation of Hellenic-American Societies of New England celebrates Hellenic heritage by sponsoring and organizing programs and activities that promote and preserve the values and ideals of our Hellenic culture thereby enriching our community and nation. Its purpose and interest is the perpetuation of those values and ideals that are embodied within the Hellenic heritage – including the pursuit of knowledge, education, the arts, and civic responsibility. They are also the proud coordinator of several Hellenic-American community celebrations including the annual Greek Independence Day Parade in Boston, which attracts thousands of community members and brings together people from throughout New England. For more information visit https://hellenicfederationne.org/en/.
