The Celtics brought a championship parade back to Boston after five long years. Here’s how it went down. - The Boston Globe (2024)

It’s officially Joe Mazzulla Day in Rhode Island — 2:35 p.m.

Rhode Island governor Dan McKee announced that Friday is officially Joe Mazzulla Day in Rhode Island.

“Coach - thank you for embodying the spirit of our state through leadership, toughness, and dedication,” McKee wrote on Twitter.

Some post-parade cornhole for Mazzulla and Stevens — 2:25 p.m.

How to unwind after a long day of celebrating? A little cornhole in Seaport was the choice for Joe Mazzulla and Brad Stevens.

Have a day, Mike Gorman. — 2:15 p.m.

No better way to send off longtime play-by-play voice Mike Gorman into retirement than with a championship parade.

Gorman even got a swig of champagne on the duck boats on Friday.

Want an autograph? Just get a sharpie and some duct tape. — 1:50 p.m.

One young Celtics fan had a great way to get some autographs at today’s Celtics parade — taping a sharpie to a basketball and throwing it toward any duck boat that would take it.

That kid is going places.

Watch that knee, Joe — 1:30 p.m.

By Amin Touri

Joe Mazzulla revealed after Game 5 of the Finals that he’d torn his meniscus in March, but he didn’t seem too concerned about his compromised knee as he jump on and off the duck boat roof during Friday’s parade.

He also seemingly jumped out the window to greet fans at street level. Never change, Joe.

Some of the best photos from parade day (so far) — 1:10 p.m.

Sam Hauser is living it up — 12:55 p.m.

Hang it in the Louvre — 12:50 p.m.

This is why they grease the poles — 12:40 p.m.

The parade is winding down — 12:30 p.m.

About an hour and 15 minutes after it started, the parade has begun winding down. Some fans are still hanging around even after the duck boats reached the Hynes Convention Center, while others have headed to bars and restaurants to keep the party going. — Emma Healy

Tatum, triumphant — 12:20 p.m.

Jayson Tatum finally has his ring, and he’s celebrating appropriately.

Globe reporter Gary Washburn is on a duck boat. Here’s what he’s seeing.

The parade reaches Boylston — 12:10 p.m.

Boylston Street erupted in cheers as the first truck in the parade rounded the corner. It omitted loud honks and spewed steam and confetti above the heads of fans.

Screams grew even louder as the first duck boat made its appearance. Joe Mazzulla was the first to greet fans on Boylston, leaning over the roof of his duck boat and banging on its surface with both hands.

Next came Horford, decked out in a cowboy hat, arms raised triumphantly above his head. Then, from the next duck, Porzingis showered the crowds with champagne.

”Where’s Deuce?” one fan called out.

”Where the [expletive] is Derrick White?” yelled another. — Maddie Khaw

Scenes from the parade route — 12:00 p.m.

Porzingis tries to open a bottle of champagne on his duck boat but can’t seem to get it open. — Jacqueline Munis

On Causeway, after Mazzulla’s duck boat came Jayson Tatum’s, practically hanging off the side of the duck boat, holding up the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. On his duck boat, Jaylen Brown held his coveted MVP trophy. — Ava Berger

Fans cheered as a fan was wheeled down Boylston on a stretcher. — Maddie Khaw

Sam Hauser finished a beer on his duck boat, and immediately grabbed another. — Ava Berger

The bell at King’s Chapel is ringing as fans wait for more boats to come. — Jacqueline Munis

Fans are now rushing off of Causeway Street eager to see more of the parade along the route. Chants of MVP echoed through the crowd as Jaylen Brown rode by. He is loving the crowd. — Ava Berger

Fans are chanting “Tatum! Tatum!” Tatum just threw a basketball into the crowd as cheers continue. — Jacqueline Munis

Who’s riding with whom? — 11:55 a.m.

By Katie McInerney

Leading the parade is a boat carrying Jayson Tatum and owner Wyc Grousbeck, plus friends and family.

Following them are Jaylen Brown and owner Steve Pagliuca.

Next is a bus sponsored by Dick’s House of Sport, which is carrying local schoolchildren through the parade.

After the bus comes a boat with Derrick White and the Boston Svi Party.

Watch the duck boats roll out from TD Garden — 11:50 a.m.

‘Greatest feeling in the world’ — 11:45 a.m.

For Jonathan Valerio, 27, witnessing the Celtics win the championship this week was the “greatest feeling in the world,” especially after years of watching the team make it to the conference finals and Finals without securing a win a year ago.

Today Valerio, who has Dominican roots, has draped a Dominican flag around his shoulders. He’s excited to see Al Horford, the first Dominican to ever win an NBA title. Horford’s contributions to the team, he explained, have meant a lot to him and the Dominican community.

”I hope he sees us out here representing and supporting him,” Valerio said. — Helena Getahun-Hawkins

Love is in the air — 11:40 a.m.

Justin Barnard, 29, of Cambridge, and Cailyn Masson Barnard, 25, of Somerville, were scheduled to get married at Boston City Hall today. When the parade was scheduled at the same time as their wedding, the city called, offering to reschedule. But they embraced it instead.

”We wanted it to be during the parade,” Barnard said, as the couple got photos taken near Government Center.

They’re having a bigger wedding in December, but their parents were there for their elopement, before Barnard deploys with the Navy on Saturday.

”We’re big Boston fans,” said Masson Barnard.

”We’re absolutely big Celtics fans now,” said Barnard, who added a green tie to his wedding outfit to celebrate the team.

Everyone has been extremely congratulatory, the happy couple noted — maybe even more so than usual for newlyweds. And the parade had an extra bonus for them: streets were closed near the route, making for some better pictures.

”Everyone’s in a good mood,” said Barnard. — Christopher Huffaker

Paul Pierce is showing off the 2008 trophy — 11:35 a.m.

There are multiple championship trophies on this parade. Paul Pierce is riding on a duck boat with Brian Scalabrine, and Pierce is lifting the 2008 championship trophy while Tatum’s got this year’s. Lots of gold on display this morning.

The Finals are over, but the trash talk never stops — 11:25 a.m.

Fans had some snarky things to say about the Mavericks on their homemade signs.

The duck boats are on the move — 11:20 a.m.

Huge cheers erupted from the crowd outside TD Garden as 27 duck boats carrying the Celtics, their family, staff, media members, and more began their crawl through the streets. Confetti began to fall like snow as the boats rolled by. — Emma Healy

Feeling the heat — 11:10 a.m.

The line outside the 7-Eleven across from Government Center station stretches across the sideway. The store has reached capacity, and fans are waiting to be let in. Only two cashiers are available to ring up the fans’ water bottles, Gatorade, and pizza slices.

Suzie Mello, 41, sat on the sun-soaked concrete, leaning back against a railing on Boylston and Berkeley Streets, saving a spot for herself and her three children while they sat in the shade.

The heat doesn’t bother Mello.

”It’s perfect,” she said. “As long as it’s no thunder and rain, I’m fine with that.”

A “Let’s go Celtics” chant started up on the corner of Boylston and Arlington Streets.

”(Expletive) Kyrie,” one fan called out as he walked past, holding a Dunkin’ Donuts cup full of foamy beer. — Jacqueline Munis, Maddie Khaw

Fans are getting restless — 11:05 a.m.

On the corner of Boylston and Arlington, fans are biding their time by playing a game of catch as they wait for the parade to pass their section.

Fans tossed a big neon tennis ball across the blocked street, connecting from one side of the railings to the other.

”Throw it to the construction workers,” one fan said. “They’re working hard today.”

Sure enough, the next toss skyrocketed to the first level of a half-built building, where construction workers in neon vests and helmets stood over the edge looking down at the crowd. Cheers erupted as one worker caught the ball and tossed it back to the fans. — Maddie Khaw

Four generations of Celtics fans — 10:55 a.m.

Four generations of the Dean family were amped for the parade Friday morning.

Fans nearby couldn’t help but smile at the family’s shouts of excitement.

”We’re the Deans,” Rita Dean said. “We’re the best family out there.”

Dorris Dean, 73, the matriarch, stood with her two daughters, Desonya Williams and Rita. Standing a few inches shorter than the rest of the family, Elijah Castro, 5, Dorris’s great grandson, wore his green Celtics hat with pride.

Dorris came ready to the parade in Jayson Tatum’s newest shoes “Tatum 2 ‘Legacy.’” — Ava Berger

You’ve heard of duck boats, now get ready for duck borgs — 10:50 a.m.

”I feel like I shouldn’t bring my borg in,” said one fan before she set her “black out rage gallon,” filled with ambiguous pink liquid, on the concrete, then headed into Life Alive Organic Cafe on Boylston for a refreshment.

Her gallon, labeled “Jaylen Borg,” joined those of her friends on the ground. Others were labeled “Love that dirty water,” “cue the duck borgs,” and “Celtics borg.” — Maddie Khaw

Some creative handmade signs on the course — 10:48 a.m.

At the intersection of Sudbury and Cambridge, Demetra Gildea and her two sons, James, 15, and Andrew, 8, found a spot right at the barricades after driving in from Andover.

Andrew and a friend, Brandt Farnum, also 8, brought homemade signs.

Though the 8-year-olds fell asleep before the game was over Monday night, they were excited to hear the next morning that the Celtics won.

”I didn’t get much sleep that night,” James said.

He is most excited to see Derrick White, while Andrew and Brandt are most excited to see Kristaps Porzingis. They wished him good luck on his upcoming surgery.

Jrue Holiday on joining the Celtics this season — 10:40 a.m.

Jrue Holiday says he was a little bit nervous when he was traded to the Celtics just before training camp.

“There were probably a couple of things I did that they didn’t like,’’ he says, getting a chuckle from the crowd.

Holiday and the Bucks battled the Celtics through 2021 en route to an NBA title. — Chad Finn

Jrue Holiday joined the Celtics in the offseason from Milwaukee, where he won a ring.

”I’m glad I’m on this side now,” he said.

”I was a bit nervous, I think there were a couple of things I did to the Celtics at the time that they didn’t like,” he joked. “Knew that we had something special.” — Katie McInerney

‘They always easy:’ Jayson Tatum on the team’s trip to Miami — 10:38 a.m.

The bench players are introduced first, then coach Joe Mazzulla, and then the big six -- Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis (wearing a huge championship belt like a boxer would have), Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown (carrying his Final MVP trophy), and finally, Jayson Tatum, who raises the Larry O’Brien trophy over his head. Brian Scalabrine is now conducting a Q&A with the players. — Chad Finn

“They always easy,” referring to trips to Miami when Miami has knocked them out of the Eastern Conference twice in the last five years is hilarious. — Amin Touri

Mayor Michelle Wu addresses the crowd — 10:30 a.m.

Governor Healey is followed by mayor Michelle Wu. “This team has solidified itself as one of the greatest in the history of the league,’’ she says.

“To all the other fans who chanted ‘we want Boston,’ I can’t blame you,’’ said Wu in closing. “Because who wouldn’t? Go Celtics. Go Boston.” — Chad Finn

The ceremonies at TD Garden are underway — 10:28 a.m.

Celtics public address announcer Eddie Palladino gets the festivities started by introducing governor Maura Healey.

“We are in love with this team,’’ she says. “Basketball is a team game, everybody has a role, everybody has a part ... and as great as they are on the court, these men are better as human beings.”

Healey shouted out the Celtics of her youth — Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Cedric Maxwell — and kept going.

”If you close your eyes you can hear Johnny Most,” she said.

The players are showing out — 10:26 a.m.

The Celtics are in the building, and they brought some fabulous ‘fits.

Al Horford is rocking a cowboy hat and a t-shirt with a photo of Tom Brady celebrating his Super Bowl win with the Buccaneers.

Jayson Tatum’s shirt features himself wearing ski goggles in the locker room after the Celtics won the title.

Svi Mykhailiuk, from Ukraine, doesn’t seem to know what he’s getting into.

Fans are climbing the poles — 10:25 a.m.

An hour before the parade, the heat isn’t slowing down any fans on Causeway Street. Fans have already taken to climbing on poles and street lights, chanting “(expletive) Kyrie,” and drinking — a lot.

Bubbles! — 10:15 a.m.

What’s more important than the parade? Bubbles. At least that’s what three-year-old Robby Baxter III thinks.

Robby and his dad, Rob, sat just far enough from the metal barricade at 9:45 a.m. so that Robby could do the important work: blowing bubbles directly into his own face.

”I’m happy,” Robby said looking at his dad.

The pair from Dorchester watched all the Finals games together for the first time, Rob, 45, said.

“Priceless,” Rob said describing the experience with his son.

Rob wore a unicorn horn on top of his head as a tribute to Kristaps Porzingis, “the king of everything.”

Mayor Wu celebrates Celtics championship win on CNN ahead of parade — 10:10 a.m.

By Niki Griswold

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joined anchors Omar Jimenez and Sara Sidner live on CNN Friday at 9:40 a.m. to celebrate the Celtics championship win ahead of the duck boat parade.

”It’s a great day in the city of Boston,” Wu said, clad in bright Celtics green. “We have been pumped this entire playoff and Finals run, and for this team to make it happen, to make history and to do it in the way that they did, just everyone is incredibly proud and so proud to be a Bostonian.”

In response to a question from Sidner about the heat wave that is passing through the city this week, Wu briefly outlined how the city is encouraging people to celebrate safely, and said temperatures have luckily come down from highs earlier this week.

”We’re in the 80s today, but it’s still quite hot and the timing was complicated, but I think we’ve hit the perfect window for beautiful sunny skies, a little bit of break in the weather,” said Wu. “Everyone should just stay hydrated, put on that sunscreen, make sure you’re kind of limiting your time outdoors where possible and we have lots of folks along the way at all parts of the route to make sure, to be checking in on everyone.”

Wu also said the city is expecting well over one million fans along the parade route today, and added law enforcement and first responder agencies have been preparing for days now to ensure there are heightened safety and security measures in place.

”This is a championship city; we’ve had these parades before, this one is quite special, but we know how to do this and we expect everyone to do it in a way that is classy, safe, fun, family friendly,” said Wu. “There are babies in Celtics onesies here, there are seniors who are now celebrating double digit wins for the Celtics and so we want this to be a space and environment where every generation can have fun and everyone is welcome, included, and gets to really soak in the joy.”

The Celtics are about to speak. Follow along. — 10:07 a.m.

By Chad Finn

The Celtics’ speaking event at TD Garden before they board the duck boats for the parade is about to get underway. Several lower sections on one side of the court are filled with Celtics family members and friends, season-ticket holders, team employees, and media. Eighteen — important number — chairs are set up at center court, with a podium and a table that presumably will display the Larry O’Brien trophy soon.

(The championship trophy was on the table when I arrived at 8:15 or so, but has since been taken elsewhere. It has many appointments.)

A glimpse of the Larry O’Brien Trophy? — 10:05 a.m.

A flash of gold rushed down Causeway Street at 9:25 a.m.

”What is it?” one fan asked.

”He’s got the trophy,” another said.

“What?” Another looked confused.

”The trophy, it’s the trophy,” the answer said.

”That’s the actual size? It’s big!” another excited fan remarked.

Wyc Grousbeck walked down Causeway Street with the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy to the delight of parade-goers Friday morning.

The energy is high outside of TD Garden. And yes, it is packed.

Ringing the bell — 9:55 a.m.

By Jacqueline Munis

Bill Kuttner of Charlestown is stationed behind the gates at King’s Chapel, a stop on the Freedom Trail. He’s a part of a team that will be ringing the Revere and Son Bell as the parade passes by later.

Kuttner has been a part of the bell ringing since the Patriots won the Super Bowl in 2002. It’s been five years since the last parade and he’s excited to be back ringing the bell.

”The dry spell is over!” he said.

The chapel will be closed until 1 p.m. today and then will resume tours.

Jaylen Brown, is that you? — 9:40 a.m.

By Ava Berger

Jaylen Brown on Causeway Street at 8:30 a.m.?

Not exactly. … The “fake Jaylen Brown” has arrived on Causeway Street.

Just today, Josh Griffith, the real man behind the costume, has taken about 50 pictures.

”I’m 6′5″, he’s 6′6,” Griffith said. “I’m 26, he’s 27.”

Griffith, who is from Connecticut with parents from the Boston area, started the charade a year ago when friends told him he looked like the now-Finals MVP winner, and dared him to attend a game.

”I did it and the rest is history,” Griffith said.

A die-hard fan, Griffith has gotten stopped probably 1,000 times in the year since he started dressing up as Brown.

”People just go ballistic,” Griffith said.

Trust me, it’s an uncanny resemblance.

Celtics championship parade details and stream

By Emma Healy

Location: The parade route will run from in front of TD Garden on Causeway Street, past City Hall Plaza and the Boston Common on Tremont Street, and end on Boylston Street by the Hynes Convention Center.

Forecast: The temperature is expected to be in the mid-80s. Keep up with the latest forecast here.

Across from City Hall — 9:25 a.m.

Clyde Maloni, 56, revamped his ensemble from Game 4—a green, sparkly cowboy hat, Larry Bird jersey, green kilt, cowboy boots, topped with a large gold Celtics necklaces and green beads—which he saw in Dallas. The Somerville native brought his three dogs Bradley, Chloe and Joey with him and arrived at 7:30 a.m.

Around City Hall Plaza, commuters are trying to navigate the closed left turn on Tremont St. Fans started to cheer as yellow busses full of police offices drove by through the parade line. The signs on the bus read “Go Celtics.” — Jacqueline Munis

Scenes from the city before the fun begins — 9:15 a.m.

What’s with the duck boats? — 9:00 a.m.

By Daniel Kool

For more than two decades, the boats have been a hallmark of any major Boston sports celebration, carrying players through throngs of adoring fans. The city’s first “Rolling Rally” was in 2002, when the New England Patriots won their first Super Bowl, with the boats included at the request of then-Mayor Thomas Menino.

Since then, the amphibious vehicles — also known for ferrying visitors on popular sightseeing tours — have become synonymous with championships during Boston’s enviable string of sports successes this century: 13 so far.

“This is a uniquely Boston thing,” said Richard Johnson, curator of the Sports Museum at TD Garden, which celebrates the history and character of Boston sports. “The fans have always voiced vocal and public support. … This is just the most recent manifestation of that. It’s a nice thing. You know, it’s a real community thing.”

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Staking their spots early — 8:30 a.m.

It’s parade day, folks. TD Garden at 8 a.m. is pumping with energy. Rihanna’s “Disturbia” can be heard down the block. Chants of “Olé olé olé” burst out as fans grab their spots by the metal barricades.

At 86, Alfreda Harris was making her way down Causeway Street, cane in hand and a smile on her face. Harris, from Roxbury, and a close personal friend of Wayne Embry, a former Celtics great who is now 87 years old, was invited to the VIP breakfast in the Garden Friday morning.

“I came to the games when it was $2 for second balcony seats,” Harris said, remembering the good old days. “We’re a winning team.”

Wearing her, “You got Boston” shirt and gold hoop earrings, Harris was ready.

“It’s always a great feeling,” Harris said. “We’re the best in the world.” — Ava Berger

Emma can be reached at emma.healy@globe.com or on X @_EmmaHealy_. Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com. Katie McInerney can be reached at katie.mcinerney@globe.com. Follow her @k8tmac.