Parade Day gave me an opportunity to travel back into my memories of growing up in Charlestown and past Bunker Hill Days. I walked along Main Street before the parade, from Eden Street to the Training Field, and along the way I was surprised to meet so many old friends that I hadn’t seen in years. It was like mini reunions, one right after the other. I met grammar school classmates, fellow “entertainers" who performed in one of my mother’s numerous minstrel shows dating back to the 50s, a few high school pals and those I’ve met along the way into adulthood. I was imagining the houses along …

Share your photos from Bunker Hill weekend. Show us how you celebrated. Just click the "Add" link below the photo (in the gallery) and follow the directions. Include a caption for your photo that lets others know where the photo was taken. Photos can also be emailed to: kristi.ceccarossi@patch.com.

Saturday morning's shower turned into a boon for Charlestown Open Market vendors, who had moved their booths from Main Street to beneath the overhang at the Bunker Hill Mall before the rain stopped. Diane Grant, the Charlestown Chamber of Commerce business manager, said that vendors sold more merchandise under the overhang and would set up there next year, rain or shine.

The Edna Kelly Doll Carriage Parade was established 60 years ago in Charlestown. Mary Colbert was an original organizer of the parade. She was a lifelong Charlestown resident who worked for Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, among others. She helped found the Doll Carriage Parade to give children a more active part in Bunker Hill Day ceremonies.   This year's parade was held on Saturday morning. Children dressed as princesses and characters from The Wizard of Oz. The rain moved the parade indoors at the Knights of Columbus Hall.

Clouds, a chill in the air and the threat of rain didn't seem to deter anyone in Charlestown from celebrating the Bunker Hill Day Parade on Sunday. The streets, from Bunker Hill, to Main to Monument Square, were full of friends, neighbors and relatives. And by 12:30, the historic parade was in full force from its starting point in Hayes Square.

Celebrating Bunker Hill Day has changed so much for me over the years. When I was little, we would watch at the end of Eden Street under the El. Mind you, when we did anything when we were kids it involved a cast of what seemed like thousands. My mother was one of 13, and every one of my aunts and uncles had at least six kids. Imagine, we were all poor as church mice and yet we all managed to have red, white and blue outfits from head to toe! My Ma, who could sew like the wind, would make our outfits. I love the pretty dresses she made me and it was so much fun to go shopping in Chinatown for…

Vendors for the 5th Annual Charlestown Open Market have been announced. The market will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday between West School Street and Austin Street. This year's vendors include: Anthony's Dream non profit Babycakes baby learning classes and info Boston Belle Gifts custom & personalizated gift items Boutique 4 a Week Boutique/Clothing/Items C.S.A.C BPD Safe Prescription Program Cathy Getchell Art Cellular Connections verizon wireless services Charlestown Ace Hardware retail Charlestown Chiropractic Chiropractic information Charlestown Lions Non profit Charlestown…

Teams battled it out this year, but in the end, the Knights of the Columbus team was victorious. The Gorman Scholarship team came in second.

The Bunker Hill Day Parade starts at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. The route is as follows: Vine Street straight to Bunker Hill Street, left to Main Street, right to Union Street, left to Washington Street, left to Harvard Street, right to Warren Street, left to Monument Avenue, left on Monument Square, continue on High Street, right on Green Street, right on Bartlett Street, continuing to Monument Square, right on Monument Square, left on Winthrop Street, ending at Common Street. Several roads will be closed on Sunday and traffic will be diverted around the neighborhood. To accommodate the parade, …

As part of Charlestown Pride Week, the Mayor's office sponsored a Senior Luncheon at the Knights on Wednesday. City officials helped serve up the meal to a large crowd of Charlestown's elders.

Got a parade memory to share? Add it to our Bunker Hill Memories page: http://on.fb.me/latwco Thinking back on my childhood memories of the Bunker Hill Parade, at first I could only seem to remember the unpleasant parts. How hot it often was, so stifling while standing at the corner of Bunker Hill and Pearl, waiting for the seemingly endless parade to be over. And how everyone was drinking out in the streets. But this week I talked with some family members, and asked them to tell me what they remembered. The conversations helped surface some of my own fun times. There were plenty of them. My …

What's new about the Bunker Hill Day Parade this year? Organizers are trying to encourage a stronger "community element.” The parade committee is inviting all community organizations, including clubs, schools,  youth organizations, sports teams, faith-based groups, non-profits, and others to join the parade and show their Charlestown pride.   Any organization interested in marching should call George Morton, Community Division Coordinator, at 857-205-0813, or email gmorton207@comcast.net to reserve their space. Groups can carry a banner, have a vehicle, pull a float, wear their uniforms, sing…

The Bunker Hill Day Parade is unique because it technically celebrates a British victory, but it’s truly become a celebration of American patriotism mixed with a sense of Irish nationalism. If it weren’t for the Irish, Bunker Hill Day celebrations might have never been. In 1875, the Irish had the opportunity to take over Bunker Hill Day. That they did. They adopted Bunker Hill Day as their holiday and added their own touch to it. In the Charlestown Patriot-Bridge, the “Charlestown Irish and Bunker Hill Day,” Edward Callahan and Dan Casey state that, “After 1875, the Irish began to remake …

Charlestown Against Drugs (CHAD) got Charlestown Pride Week started on Monday evening with its annual March Against Drugs. A large neighborhood contingency turned out for the event. There were free hot dogs, sodas and snacks -- and two local children won bicycles in a raffle. For more info, visit www.csac-chad.org.