For the 13th time in 23 years, Boston will hold a “rolling rally,” or parade of duck boats ferrying a champion team across the city through throngs of adoring fans.
This time, bring some water.
Boston plans to fete the C’s on Friday at 11 a.m., getting an early jump on the day to perhaps deter heavy drinking in the crowd. Not that booze would be such a great idea; Friday is expected to ride the tail end of a week-long heat wave, with temperatures soaring deep into the 80s and shirt-soaking humidity.
“Alcohol in the hot sun is tough for anybody,” said Boston Chief of Emergency Medical Services James Hooley.
The parade route will be familiar to Boston sports fans: Departing from TD Garden, the ducks will roll down Causeway Street, onto Cambridge and Tremont streets, past City Hall Plaza and Boston Common. Then, they’ll hook a right onto Boylston Street and truck down through Copley Square before halting at Hynes Convention Center.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said the city expects up to a million people to line the route.
Wu and Hooley also asked fans to refrain from some of the more common bad ideas seen in parades past, like people climbing light posts.
“Be a good wingman, wingwoman, good friend,” Hooley said. “Visits to emergency rooms can be avoided by just some common sense.”
MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng encouraged people to avoid the traffic and potential parking nightmares by taking the T to the celebration. There are several stops up and down the route.
