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4th of July in Boston

Every Independence Day, over 500,000 people descend on Boston to enjoy citywide patriotic events including a concert from the Boston Pops and special celebrity guests, and an incredible fireworks display over the Charles River. This 4^th of July celebration is one of the largest and best-attended in the country.

Pops Goes the Fourth

The 4^th of July in Boston centers around the Hatch Shell – a beautiful half-dome on the Esplanade that functions as an outdoor performance space. Since 1976, the Boston Pops have performed here on the 4^th, providing a soundtrack for the thousands of people lined up along the river and the lucky ones admitted to The Oval – the grassy area right around the Hatch Shell. Spectators usually have to line up early in the morning (as early as 6 a.m.) to get in before capacity is reached, with security checkpoints and wristbands controlling who comes and goes. However, there are 19 sound towers set up around Boston and across the river in Cambridge so that all spectators can hear the concert. There is recorded music playing for most of the day, with the Pops’ concert starting in the early evening and continuing up until the fireworks.

The Boston Pops, known as “America’s Orchestra,” are affiliated with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and include some of Boston’s most accomplished musicians. The Pops welcome musical guests on the 4^th of July, with past quests including stars such as Neil Diamond, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes, and David Lee Roth.

Many people bring blankets, picnics, or even tents to spend the day on the Esplanade waiting for the Pops to play the 1812 Overture and kick off the fireworks. Boating is also a popular activity on the 4^th of July, with the river filling up with everything from kayaks to yachts by nightfall. Strict rules about boating are in effect, however, because of safety issues with crowding, so be aware of restricted routes if you are planning on going out on the river.

Boston Harborfest

Boston Harborfest is a multi-day summer festival celebrating the 4^th of July, featuring many daily events geared towards families. Visitors will enjoy special historic tours and museum events, including a reading of the Declaration of the Independence at the Old State House, tours of Historic Boston Light out in the harbor, special themed walking tours of the Freedom Trail, and a turn-around and salute by the USS Constitution.

Harborfest also includes Children’s Day, usually held a few days before the 4^th in City Hall Plaza. Entertainment includes music, dance, and juggling performances, activities sponsored by organizations such as the New England Aquarium and Historic New England, and fun ways for kids to celebrate the birth of the nation.

Other Harborfest events include the Extreme Sailing Series on the waterfront, Chowderfest (where restaurants compete to be named the best chowder in Boston), and dining and fireworks cruises.

Fireworks Spectacular

Like any good 4^th of July celebration, Boston’s Independence Day ends with a fireworks display. The colorful pyrotechnics are shot off from a barge in the Charles River that floats in between the Massachusetts Avenue and Longfellow bridges, and the display is visible from many vantage points in Boston and Cambridge.

The best viewing spots are on the riverbanks east of the Boston University Bridge, with prime real estate by the Hatch Shell and on the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge itself. The Museum of Science also has a special members-only event on the rooftop of its parking garage for fireworks viewing.

The fireworks are set to music, and are always an incredible display.

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4th of July in Boston