Boston is no stranger to sports victories, but it’s been 16 years since the city has felt the triumph of championship victory on the hardwood.
The Celtics finally broke the long 21st-century NBA championship drought in the 2024 NBA finals, and on Friday morning the whole city got a chance to celebrate as an estimated one million people lined the streets to catch a glimpse of their champions parade through the city on the historic Boston Duck Boats.
8 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Fans in green shirts roamed the streets during the morning commute. Thousands of fans gathered in hordes at barricades minutes before the parade route began.
A large number of Celtics fans began to gather on the parade route in the early morning. (Nick Peace for the Beacon)
a fan holding a sign eagerly awaits the start of the parade. (Nick Peace for the Beacon)
People lined up near the start of the parade at TD Garden. (Nick Peace for the Beacon)
Boston Police walk the streets to keep the area surrounding the parade route safe. (Nick Peace for the Beacon)
11 a.m. – The parade passed through the streets of Boston starting on Causeway St by TD Garden.
Fans were chanting in excitement as dozens of reporters and TV crews lined up to document the beginning of the parade.
Boston Police walk alongside the parade. (Nick Peace for the Beacon)
Kristaps Porzingis cheers in excitement towards the fans watching the parade. (Nick Peace for the Beacon)
Jaylen Brown smiles at the crowd of fans. (Nick Peace for the Beacon)
Sam Hauser looks onto the crowd of fans and laughs. (Nick Peace for the Beacon)
(Nick Peace for the Beacon)
Payton Pritchard smiles at the crowd of fans. (Nick Peace for the Beacon)
Jason Tatum holding the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. (Sam Shipman/Beacon Staff)
11:45 a.m. – Parade passed through Boston Common and Emerson.
In the Boston Common, large groups of fans danced on the grass while athletes, friends, and family passed by Emerson’s campus on Boylston St. on Duck Boats.
Celtics fans gather near Emerson College’s Uncommon Stage. (Nick Peace for the Beacon)
The parade passes by Emerson College. (Nick Peace for the Beacon)
fans travel into the Boston Public Garden after the parade passes through. (Sam Shipman/Beacon Staff)
12:30 p.m. – As parade came to an end, fans began to celebrate on the parade route.
A group of people play drums in the street after the parade ends. (Nick Peace for the Beacon)
The infamous “Keytar Bear” dawns a Celtics outfit and plays for Celtics fans on the street. (Nick Peace for the Beacon)
a group of Celtics fans stand on top of a bus stop. (Sam Shipman/Beacon Staff)
Celtics fans enjoy a late lunch watching parade enjoyers walk around the city. (Nick Peace for the Beacon)
A Celtics fan climbs on top of a pole, getting cheered on by onlookers. (Nick Peace for the Beacon)
Boston Police keep an eye on the street minutes after the parade concluded. (Nick Peace for the Beacon)
Celtics fans dance in a circle in the Boston Public Garden. (Nick Peace for the Beacon)
The parade came to a close, but the celebrations continued across the city. People wearing green could be seen sitting in restaurants, dancing in circles, playing instruments, or climbing on street poles.
Fans across the city talked about what led them to watch the parade.
“Celtics do it differently,” said senior MFA student Nicky Thibault. “I went to the 2014 Patriots parade and it wasn’t half the size of this” Boston has been waiting to raise banner 18, and it’s about damn time.”
For fans like Nicky and his brother David, it is not just about supporting the team. It’s about the moments that make the parade special.
“You come out here and try to make contact or get the attention of these players, and if you get that one second where you feel like you guys connect, it’s worth it,” said David.
