Boston city officials are gearing up to keep everyone safe during the First Night New Year’s Eve Festivities on Wednesday — and encouraging residents to keep safety in mind as well.
“This is going to be a great event as always, and we are here to support the folks throughout the city,” said BPD Commissioner Michael Cox at a press briefing Monday. “But we want to emphasize safety exists when we all work together. So if you see something, it’s really, really important that you say something to our department members and or dial in 911.”
Boston safety officials, including police, firefighters and EMS staff, will be out with extra numbers and easy mobility on New Year’s Eve during the 12 hours of First Night programming and beyond across the city.
City officials reminded residents that fireworks are illegal in Massachusetts, the possession and use of drones is prohibited around the First Night activities, and that people may not consume alcohol or marijuana in public spaces during the festivities.
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BPD and MBTA transit police heads said there are no current “credible threats” on record pertaining to New Year’s Eve in Boston. Cox emphasized the officials have a “comprehensive safety plan” in place for the night.
Boston fire officials said they will be performing extra overcrowding checks at nightclubs and venues on New Year’s Eve and have fire prevention pyrotechnicians inspectors out checking on fireworks displays.
Transit officials said “consumption of alcohol and/or unruly behavior will not be tolerated on the MBTA” and also encouraged riders to download the free See Say app to easily report any health or safety concerns on the T.
“One, it’s free,” said MBTA Transit Police Chief Kenneth Green, arguing for use of the See Say app. “Two, it helps make our system safer.”
Anywhere around the city, officials emphasized, its important to look out for those around you.
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“If you have any kind of medical problems, you see somebody who looks like they’ve overindulged or they’re laid out — even when the weather’s not brutally cold, when it’s wet and it’s cold and stuff, people can really succumb to hypothermia or the effects of it,” said Boston EMS Chief James Hooley. “So typically, similar to what Chief Green said, see something, say something.”
“No Kings” rallies are scheduled in Boston and across Massachusetts on Saturday and are expected to draw large crowds, organizers said.
Organized by the ACLU of Massachusetts, Indivisible Mass Coalition, and Mass 50501, the event is a mass mobilization in protest of the Trump administration.
The No Kings theme was created by the 50501 Movement, a national movement made up of Americans who stand for democracy and against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. The name 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement.
“The Trump administration is trying to shred the Constitution; the No Kings movement is an unequivocal statement that we, the people, will not let that happen. This will be the third global No Kings Day, and it’s not just about protesting what’s wrong—it’s about building something better. We intend to show our power, build our power, and power a democracy that advances freedom, equality, justice, and dignity for all,” organizers wrote.
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The rally, one of thousands scheduled across the country this weekend, is planned for the Boston Common from 2 to 4 p.m. More than 100,000 people are expected to attend Boston’s rally. Other events are scheduled in Pittsfield, Northampton, Lancaster, Worcester, Framingham, Methuen, Lexington, and towns in southeastern Massachusetts and the Cape. For a map of No Kings events near you, click here.
Speakers include elected officials Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Gov. Maura Healey, Sen. Ed Markey and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, and civic leaders Hessann Farooqi Marcelo Gomes Da Silva, Darlene Lombos, president of the Greater Boston Labor Council, Carol Rose, executive director of ACLU of Massachusetts, Jessica Tang, president of the American Federation of Teachers of Massachusetts, and others. It will be moderated by Rahsaan Hall, president and CEO of Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts.
There will also be performances by the Dropkick Murphys, Boston Area Brigade of Activist Musicians, BVOCAL Chorus, and Jimmy Tingle.
A previous No Kings rally in October drew massive crowds estimated in the tens of thousands.
NBC10 Boston
NBC10 Boston
An aerial view of the crowd at Boston’s “No Kings” rally on the Common on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
ALLSTON, MASS. (WHDH) – Boston police are searching for a gunman who opened fire in Allston Thursday and left one person hurt.
Police responded to a radio call for a person shot in the area of Brighton Avenue at approximately 6:46 p.m. When officers arrived, they said they found a male “juvenile” suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim’s age has not been released.
Boston police said the shooter fled the scene and remains at large. No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Boston police.
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This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.
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