Brewers parade sets for Friday morning in downtown Milwaukee

The Milwaukee Brewers won the World Series, and the city is preparing for a massive celebration on Friday morning. The championship parade is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Friday at the corner of North Fourth Street and West Wisconsin Avenue. It will move through the downtown area and finish at Henry Maier Festival Park, where a rally will take place.

Preparations began in earnest on Thursday as fans started positioning themselves along the route. Michael and Sue Brown, who live in Oak Creek, drove downtown to scout a good viewing spot. Michael Brown has followed the team for decades, including attending two World Series games in 1982. He said this is a dream come true because he never expected to see the team win in his lifetime. The couple said they already have folding chairs packed in their car for Friday.

Jerrel Kruschke, the commissioner for the Milwaukee Department of Public Works, told reporters the city expects approximately 250,000 people to line the parade route. His department is handling the logistical setup, which includes placing hundreds of barricades and parking signs. Crews are also checking street lighting and inspecting the pavement to ensure the streets are safe for the event. Kruschke said fencing could begin going up along the route as early as 10 p.m. on Thursday.

Kruschke advised attendees to arrive early to secure positions along Wisconsin Avenue. He noted that the earlier people arrive, the easier it will be to access the front row. The parade route is set to close to traffic at 7 a.m. Friday, though closures might happen sooner if needed. He encouraged groups to carpool and warned that latecomers should expect to park several blocks away and walk to their spots.

The Milwaukee Police Department is enforcing parking restrictions along the route. Officers are asking drivers with vehicles parked in restricted zones to move them by 7 a.m. on Friday. Police expect heavy traffic for both vehicles and pedestrians in the Third Ward and Summerfest areas. The Wisconsin Avenue bridge over the Milwaukee River is currently the only restricted pedestrian area along the route, according to the department.

City rules prohibit open containers of alcohol on streets and sidewalks. Police are asking attendees to arrive early, park legally, lock their vehicles, and keep valuables secure. Businesses along the route are also adjusting their operations to handle the expected crowds.

Nat Davauer, the owner of Draft & Co., a bar near the parade's starting point, said his staff has been working to prepare for the event. The team initially thought the celebration would happen on Monday, but the schedule shifted to Friday. Davauer said the business doubled its efforts to stock up on beer and coordinate with distributors. He said the bar will be able to sell beer on the plaza near the start of the route and is bringing in employees earlier than usual.

For the Brown family, the event marks the culmination of years of waiting. Sue Brown recalled a comment made by former player Robin Yount about the team bringing joy to many fans. She said the team did exactly that. Michael Brown described the feeling of the victory by simply stating, "We are the world champions. What a thing to say! That's just awesome."