toronto raptors parade

Toronto parade route is packed with fans to see the Raptors

The streets of downtown Toronto are rammed this morning with exuberant sports fans ahead of the city's — nay, the entire country's — first ever NBA Championship parade.

Your 2019 NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors, famously defeated two-time defending champions the Golden State Warriors at Oakland's Oracle Arena on Thursday night to bring home their first title in franchise history.

The city has been buzzing ever since.

raptors parade

With their take-down of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and the rest of Golden State's All-Star lineup, the Raptors became the first team outside the U.S. ever to win the NBA Finals on Thursday night — and Toronto was there for it.

A wild Thursday night led to a quiet Friday morning, but the people are rested and once again stoked to cheer on their hometown heroes.

The official Toronto Raptors Championship Parade kicks off at 10 a.m. this morning at Exhibition Place's Princes' Gates, where fans have already been camped out since the wee hours in hopes of scoring a spot with a view.

exhibitionUnless you got there nice and early — as in before sunrise — good luck getting anywhere near the parade's starting point.

The procession, which is set to feature everyone from Drake to five buses filled with Raptors greats such as Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet, will head east from Exhibition place down Lakeshore Boulevard.

raptors parade route 1

The sidewalks and roadsides running along Lakeshore between Strachan and York Street have been filled with people since early Monday morning.

raptors paradeHeading north up York Street and University Avenue to dip east on Queen, the parade will finished with a massive celebration rally at Nathan Philips Square around 12:30 p.m.

The area surrounding City Hall hit capacity hours before the parade was even set to begin.

Lines are now starting to snake out from the parade route itself as people show up in hopes of seeing the action.

Good luck getting a coffee (or pretty much anything else) downtown right now.

tim hortons lineHave fun and be safe out there, Toronto.

Fingers crossed you can find a rooftop with a view because, if you don't have a spot along the route right now, you're very unlikely to score one.

Lead photo by

Lauren O'Neil


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Sports & Play

Toronto Raptors players wore some wild costumes at their Halloween bash

Toronto Maple Leafs Halloween party featured plenty of hilarious costumes

Here's why a woman ran onto the court at a Toronto Raptors game

Toronto Maple Leafs are now worth a billion dollars more than before

Toronto's largest indoor roller skating rink shuts down

Fans can now tour the Leafs and Raptors dressing rooms at Scotiabank Arena

Former Toronto Raptors coach lived in a hotel during his whole tenure with team

Toronto Maple Leafs fan tosses jersey on ice during disappointing loss