The highly anticipated St. Patrick’s Day breakfast in South Boston is just a few weeks away and state Sen. Nick Collins and his team are readying the event for a familiar venue, the Boston Exhibition and Convention Center. The event, which was held last year at the Flynn Cruiseport, is slated for Sun., March 15, at 9 a.m.

The annual breakfast is a longstanding tradition that offers a dual celebration of Boston’s Irish community and Evacuation Day, the commemoration of the ousting of the British forces from Boston Harbor in 1776. Collins took over as host last year for the first time.

“We really enjoyed having the breakfast at the Flynn Cruiseport last year. I thought it was a great venue,” Collins told the Reporter. “I’m excited that it’s getting the first phase of renovation and as that process has begun and cruise season is in full-swing, we’ve decided to move the event to the Convention Center.”

Collins said he’ll likely bring the event back to the Flynn Cruiseport in years to come.  

The breakfast kicks off St. Patrick’s Day festivities in South Boston and precedes the annual parade that runs through Southie. The event attracts a large gathering of Massachusetts politicians every year and this March will be no different.

Massachusetts US Sen. Ed Markey and state Rep. Joe Kennedy, who are contenders in the closely followed US Senate race, will be in attendance, Collins said. He also expects a cohort of state and city elected officials, including Mayor Martin Walsh, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, and Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins, among many others.