A group of firefighters from around the United States pose for a selfie with spectators while marching in the St. Patrick's Day parade, March 17, 2024, in Boston's South Boston neighborhood. Associated Press File Photo

BOSTON — Thousands of people lined the streets of South Boston on Sunday for the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, one of the nation’s largest celebrations of Irish heritage.

The parade traditionally draws crowds from across Massachusetts and beyond, with marching bands, floats, veterans’ groups and local organizations making their way along the route through South Boston.

City officials said preparations had been underway for weeks, with police, transit officials and emergency crews coordinating safety and transportation plans as large crowds gather in the neighborhood.

The event is a major annual tradition in Boston, a city with deep Irish roots, and often coincides with celebrations of Evacuation Day, which commemorates the departure of British troops from Boston in 1776.

Officials encouraged people attending the parade to plan ahead for road closures and crowded public transit as the neighborhood fills with spectators throughout the day.

Last year’s parade drew tens of thousands of attendees and featured dozens of marching groups.