This weekend we will once again be celebrating First Night in Boston. First Night is a wonderful event, particularly for families. I encourage parents to attend the events with their children.As always, we want this to be a very safe celebration. There are a few simple steps everyone can take to ensure that First Night is a safe and happy event for everyone:
We are expecting large crowds again this year, so I advise parents not to send their children into the city unsupervised.
Families should have a plan for members who become separated or lost. They should have an agreed-upon meeting place or a phone number of somebody they can call.
Everyone should dress appropriately for the weather.
There are a number of parking restrictions in place throughout downtown Boston, so I recommend people leave the car at home and take the MBTA into First Night. The T will be free after 8:00 PM on Saturday, and will be running until 2 AM.
Expect traffic diversions at many events such as the Grand Procession Parade in the Back Bay, and the fireworks displays at both the Boston Common and the waterfront
We ask everyone to celebrate responsibly. First Night is a family night. We will not tolerate unruly behavior or public drinking. If there are individuals who do not choose to celebrate responsibly, the Boston Police Department will be on hand.
This means that you can expect to see a large, visible police presence at all First Night events, in particular the Back Bay, Boston Common, downtown and Waterfront areas.
This enforcement effort extends beyond the celebration in downtown Boston. While we are excited about the large number of events downtown, we are not losing lose sight of our priorities in the neighborhoods. Police will also respond to loud parties in our neighborhoods.
There are no specific threats against the City of Boston or our First Night celebrations, nevertheless we always take particular caution during special events. We will be working with a number of our public safety partners including the Boston Fire Department, Transportation Department, MBTA Police, State police, and FBI. We will also have a number of plainclothes officers throughout the crowds monitoring activities.
On behalf of the Boston Police Department, I wish everyone an enjoyable First Night and a very happy and peaceful New Year.
Thank you
For more information, visit www.firstnight .org
