Yes, the event is free for participants and spectators, through the kind generosity of a grant from Tufts University Community Relations and many volunteers.

Cohosts of the 2024 Mystic River Pride Flotilla are the Gentle Giant Rowing Club & the Mystic River Watershed Association.

The Mystic River basin is on the Somerville & Medford city line. We encourage people to take the T, ride bikes, or walk to the riverbanks.

We recommend you arrive by 11:30 AM, as the flotilla will start promptly at 12-noon and will be about one hour.

Medford: Macdonald Park along MA Route 16, has two fantastic spectator vistas. The closest T station is Wellington—about a 20-minute walk.

Somerville: Blessing of the Bay Park along Shore Drive has a few spectator vistas. The closest T station is Assembly—about a 20-minute walk.

Look for the ❤️s on the map above for specific locations to gather friends and family.

Driving is discouraged as parking is EXTREMELY limited on both the Medford and Somerville sides of the river. Parking tickets and towing charges are the sole responsibility of the vehicle’s owner.

There will be no parking spots available at Blessing of the Bay Boathouse.

You will need to drop off your boat at the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse, and then drive to the Somerville District Courthouse to park there. It’s about an 11-minute walk back to the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse.

There is limited parking on Shore Drive and the Ten Hills neighborhood. We’ve requested the City of Somerville relax their permit rules during the Flotilla.

Yes, you can reserve and rent canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards from Paddle Boston, located at the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse in Somerville.

Yes, we highly recommend you register in advance, as we will be sending occasional emails to update those who register. We want to keep on-the-water participants informed and inspired!

While advance registration isn’t required, it will help our volunteers get a sense of how many boats to expect to be in the flotilla, in order for everyone to have a safe and fun experience.

Indeed, we will be handing awards for the following categories…

•Most stunning queer vessel

•Most fabulous group ensemble

•Most spectacular solo effort

•Most incredible kids’ ensemble

No motorboats or jet skis will be part of the flotilla. Only human-powered boats—such as canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, rowing shells, and dragon boats—will be allowed in this flotilla.

No food trucks or vendors are planned to be anywhere near the Mystic River basin for this event.

We recommend you bring your own water bottle, pack a picnic lunch or bring snacks. This is a family-friendly alcohol-free event.

This is the first time we’re doing this event, and we are focused on this being safe and fun flotilla experience for participants and spectators.

We will send emails to those who registered, put posts on our social media, and add an alert at the top of this web page if the rain date of Sunday is activated.

If it’s lightly sprinkling, we may opt to keep the event on Saturday.

Causes for rain date delay or weekend cancelation include pervasive rain, high winds, and/or thunder and lightening storms.

We’ll do all we can to have the weather gods create a glorious day for us all. 🌈

If you want to be part of the volunteer team on the day of the event, you can let us know here.

Email us at pride@gentlegiantrowing.org and we’ll do our best to respond promptly.