The Parade will begin at Boston Public Library located on Boylston Street and marching to the corner of Park and Tremont St and end at 1 City Hall Plaza. This is a new and exciting parade designed to honor the service and sacrifice of veterans and their families, as well as a thank you to all who continue to serve. We are seeking veteran, military, and civic organizations as well as musical groups to headline this all-star salute to service. 

If your organization would like to participate, please click on the register link. 

If you have any questions, please email veterans@boston.gov.

Map of the parade route

For more information, please visit the Swan Boats of Boston website, call 617-522-1966, or email info@swanboats.com.

About the Swan Boats: 

Launched in 1877 by Irish immigrant and shipbuilder Robert Paget, the Swan Boats continue to be owned and operated by the Paget family. Mr. Paget designed the Swan Boats after attending the opera Lohengrin in New York City. At the end of the opera, the hero crosses a river in a boat drawn by a swan.

2026 marks the 149th season for the Swan Boats. The oldest and smallest boat in the fleet just celebrated its 116th season, while the newest was launched in 1993. The swan on today’s boats is made from either copper or fiberglass, depending on the age of the boat, and encloses a paddle mechanism that is used to foot propel the boat through the water.

Fully loaded, each Swan Boat weighs three tons and is powered by the driver using a foot-propelled paddle wheel. The Swan Boats are built on oak framed pontoons sheathed in copper just as they were initially constructed in 1877. After being stored in a safe place for the winter, the boats are returned to the Public Garden Lagoon each spring.