By Amanda Carswell and Bianca Strzelczyk

A cold and misty morning did not stop the Fenway faithful from taking to the streets Saturday for the Red Sox victory parade.

People of all ages watched as Boston Duck Tour boats filled with members of Red Sox Nation made their way through the streets of Boston.

“I’ve been waiting for this all my life. I’m speechless,” said Chris Sabaty, a sophomore computer science major, who watched the parade pass by from his spot near Fenway Park.

Crowds were estimated to have reached 3.2 million, as people from all over the country attended the celebration.

The parade began on Kilamarnock Street near Fenway Park and made its way down Bolyston Street, where fences held back the rows of people.

The parade was originally scheduled to end at Govern-ment Center, but due to the massive number of people expected to converge to cheer on their Beantown heroes, the route was extended to enter the Charles River and allow people from outside the city to experience the spectacle.

The streets were lined with tents and chairs as people patiently waited, some since early morning, for the chance to get a glimpse and a picture of their favorite players.

On the narrower streets of Boston, fans were able to get up close to the parade.

“We shared a moment, me and Pedro,” said Joe Gillespie, a middler economics major.

Residents of the area were seen through building windows and on their rooftops, as they too joined in the celebration. Though victory chants could be heard in the distance, the police quickly squashed any inappropriate language due to the number of children that attended the parade.

Police presence was high, with officers roaming the crowds and with motorcycle and bicycle squads from Boston, as well as surrounding suburbs. However, the force was not to the extent seen in prior nights over the past two weeks.

The atmosphere was one of pure joy as fans waved homemade signs made of newspaper clippings with slogans such as “Idiots Rule.” Even Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez held a sign proclaiming “Derek Jeter is playing golf right now. This is better.”

Many fans remembered family members who had been lifelong followers of the team and had passed away prior to last week’s historic occasion. They carried pictures and signs thanking the players for those who were unable to be there.

“It’s been 86 years, it’s a big deal,” said Heather Marlar, a junior speech pathology and audiology major.

The players shared the enthusiasm of the fans, smiling, waving and cheering along with them. Many even had their own video cameras, filming the reaction of the crowd.

The mass of people did not consist purely of Red Sox fans. Some people came out just to experience the event. Hannah Rohner, a freshman education major from Spring-field College, admitted to not being a fan of the team, but said the Red Sox win was “a big part of history.”

Even before the close of the parade, fans were already looking to the future of the Red Sox.

“Dynasty. Beginning of a dynasty,” Gillespie said. “We’re going to knock out six in a row. Think late 70’s Celtics.”