For the first time since 2019, a duck boat parade is set to roll through downtown Boston today. And it’s going to be a hot one.
If you’re planning to brave the heat — andthe crowds— you’ve got to be prepared. Expert advice: take the T (don’t drive in), get there early to stake out a spot, and drink plenty of water. If yesterday’s event with Al Horford at Raising Cane’s is any indication, Boston is probably going to be one giant mosh pit. More on that later.
In today’s special edition of Garden Party, we’ve got everything you need to know before the parade. Let’s get into it.
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About last night and what’s on deck
Here’s what you need to know:
🏀 Imagine leaving work for your lunch break and going to pick up your usual at Raising Cane’s on Boylston Street. You get to thecounter, order a Caniac Combo with extra toast, and wait. The server calls your number. You go to the counter to collect your meal. You look up, and holding your basket of chicken is 38-year-old NBA champion Al Horford.
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Hundreds of rabid Celtics fans had that exact experience Thursday— well, sort of. A horde of peoplewaited outside in the near-100 degree heat for up to 4 hours just for the chance to buy chicken from Horford himself, who made an appearance at the restaurant for ... some reason. It’s not totally clear why the event happened, but regardless, it was a smash hit. Good ol’ Al Horford. Always a man of the people.
Up next: The Celtics’ victory lap begins outside TD Garden at 11 a.m. and will run through downtown to the Hynes Convention Center. Here’s everything you need to know.
Parade HQ
It’s been a hot minute since the Celtics last hosted a championship parade. In case you’ve forgotten the drill, here’s a refresher on the big day.
- Get there early. And when I say early, I mean early. Basically, if you haven’t found your spot yet, you’d better put some pep in your step. The parade officially starts at 11 a.m., but the celebrations are already well underway.
- Take the T. With road closures and parking restrictions abounding, you’re better off taking public transportation. Plus, I hear the environment on the trains is more like a party than a commute.
- Drink plenty of water. It’s going to be a hot one out there, and with a crowd of a million (or more) expected, you might be packed in like sardines. Hydration is key.
- Not to sound like your college RA, but be sure to pace yourself. Nobody wants to be that guy who hits the bars too fast and too early and forgets his last name by the time the duck boats actually roll around.
- Take care of your fellow Bostonians.Days like today are the perfect time to put your ego aside and revel in the moment with thousands of fans who love this team and this city as much as you do. Don’t take that away from anyone.
- I feel like I shouldn’t have to say this one, but don’t throw cans of beer (or anything, really). If you think about doing something like that, imagine who could be in the object’s path. You could hit a kid. Or a grandma. Or even Jayson Tatum. Don’t be theguy that hits Jayson Tatum.
If you’ll be watching from the comfort of your air-conditioned living room,NBC Sports Boston and NBC10 Boston will have live, all-day coverage of the celebrations running through the end of the festivities.
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Check out a full guide to the parade here.
Does your business have something exciting happening for the playoffs? Email us at gardenparty@globe.com 🎉
Go deeper
As the first Dominican NBA champion, Al Horford’s Celtics win kindles Caribbean pride locally
Amid the green-clad buzz of the Celtics’ road to greatness, star center Al Horford accomplished a more personal, milestone. He is the first Dominican to win an NBA championship. His daughters joined him on the court waving miniature Dominican Republic flags. From the TD Garden crowd, Julio Sanchez, 71, watched proudly as someone from his home country welcomed the rain of congratulatory remarks. “At 38 years old, [Horford] found what he longed for: A championship ring,” Sanchez said in Spanish Tuesday, seated in a chair at a Dominican-owned barbershop in Jamaica Plain. “And as a Dominican, in my opinion, he deserves it.” Read more here.
‘You knew he would do big things.’ Joe Mazzulla’s Rhode Island connections aren’t surprised by his success.
If you ask Jamal Gomes if he’s surprised about the Celtics winning the NBA championship, he’ll tell you “absolutely not one bit.”Gomes, athletic director and basketball coach at Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick, R.I., could not be prouder of his former star player, Joe Mazzulla, for coaching the Celtics to a title at age 35. “It’s a special day when you see somebody who entered your life as a young boy on the biggest stage in the greatest franchise in maybe the history of sports excel and succeed,” Gomes said. “This guy has been a winner since he’s been in middle school.” Check out the full story.
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Which league has the better playoffs — the NBA or the NHL?
Sports fans have it good this time of year. The weather is great, and when it’s time to come in for the day, we get high-intensity games on our screens just about every other night. Boston sports fans, of course, often have it best whenever it’s title time on the calendar. For two-thirds of June, the NBA and NHL postseasons take over the sports world with very different shows. Basketball offers high-flying theatrics where no lead is safe. Hockey is chaotic, hectic, physical punishment on ice skates. On barstools, couches, and shady hammocks, it’s natural to wonder: Which sport has the better playoffs?
Emma can be reached at emma.healy@globe.com or on X @_EmmaHealy_.
