Live updates from the Boston Celtics duck boat parade

Former Boston Police Chief Bill Evans joined CBS News Boston to talk about what it’s like to plan a major public event like a championship parade.

“There’s so much unrest in the world, so much craziness going on, you can never take safety for granted,” Evans said.

Evans said he hopes paradegoers can celebrate safely.

“I know you have to hydrate, but use water and not alcohol,” Evans said with a laugh.

Duck boat drivers are just as excited about the big day as fans.

Boston Duck Boat pilot Julia Larson told WBZ-TV earlier this week that it is an exciting process waiting to find out who will be allowed to participate in the parade.

Larson said the company tells pilots the night before the parade who has been selected to participate.

Friday will actually be the second duck boat trip of the season for Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. He revealed this Thursday in a radio interview on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak and Bertrand.

With a handful of new coaches joining his staff ahead of the 2023-24 season, Mazzulla wanted them all to get a feel for Boston.

“On most coaching retreats, guys leave, go to Cape Cod or go to different places. We had our coaching retreat in downtown Boston,” he said. “We had new staff members and we created the identity of building a connection with the city. And I said, ‘We’re doing our staff retreat in Boston. We’re going to eat in Boston, we’re going to a Boston hotel and we’re going to do the duck boat tour. , so we can understand the city and its history.

“We did one at the beginning of this year and we’re ending with one,” Mazzulla said.

Mazzulla said he is looking forward to seeing the reaction from fans during Friday’s parade. But most of all, he’s excited to see his players enjoying themselves after all their hard work throughout the season.

A banner reading ‘World Champions 2024’ was hung on the back of one of the duck boats on Friday morning.

A Woburn company charged with making the banners was seen on WBZ-TV before the parade.

They don’t call Boston the ‘city of champions’ for nothing.

Boston teams have won a dozen titles since 2000.

The big three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen last brought home the Celtics title in 2008.

The Patriots have won six Super Bowls, the Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 2011 and the Red Sox were World Series winners in 2004, 2007, 2013 and 2018.

City officials are urging fans to take public transportation to the parade instead of driving.

Anyone driving to the parade should expect a difficult time finding parking. Click here for a complete list of parking restrictions in West End, Back Bay and downtown. The restrictions came into effect at 12.01am on Friday morning.

The MBTA is expecting a large number of riders on Friday and will expand transit service on all its lines.

The weather forecast offers good news for parade day.

The heat wave that much of New England has been experiencing this week is coming to an end thanks to a cold front.

It also looks like the rain will hold off during the parade.

Boston police said fans attending the parade are not allowed to bring the following items:

• Alcohol
• Weapons (including replicas)
• Coolers, glass containers and large bags
• Drones
• Fireworks

Crowds of people lined the parade route Friday morning, with some claiming their spots hours in advance.

Public safety officials said they expect more than a million people at the parade.

After leaving TD Garden and turning onto Causeway Street, the parade continues towards City Hall Plaza.

The duck boats pass through Boston Common on Tremont Street.

The parade ends around 12:30 PM on Boylston Street near the Hynes Convention Center

The following streets are in Boston Closed from 9:00 am:

• Boylston Street on both sides from Washington Street to Massachusetts Avenue
• Cambridge Street on both sides from Staniford Street to Tremont Street
• Causeway Street on both sides from North Washing Street to Merrimac Street
• Staniford Street on both sides from Causeway Street to Cambridge Street
• Tremont Street on both sides from Cambridge Street to Boylston Street