Parade GuyUpdated June 6— Today's Dorchester Day Parade is going ahead as planned — rain or shine — according to organizers. The annual celebration of Dorchester's settlement in 1630 is highlighted by today's parade, which will follow its traditional route up Dorchester Ave. from Lower Mills to Columbia Road. The parade starts at 1 p.m. in Lower Mills at the corner of Richmond Street & Dorchester Avenue and travels along Dorchester Avenue to Savin Hill at the corner of Columbia Road and Dorchester Avenue.
This year's parade will be led by dignitaries including Governor Deval Patrick. His rivals for the corner office — Charles Baker, Tim Cahill and Jill Stein— are also slated to walk in the parade. Marching bands, floats and dancers from Dorchester's rich tapestry of ethnic backgrounds make this 3.2 mile parade among the city's largest neighborhood attractions.
Official parade roster is here.

More information on the parade committee is available here.
Here's a look back at last year's parade, captured on video by the Reporter's Mike Deehan: