Staying in town for the Fourth of July weekend this year? Here is a list of events that you can check out in Boston over the next few days:

Image courtesy of U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Patrick Gearhiser; via GoCity

Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular
DCR Hatch Shell (Charles River Esplanade); Thursday, July 4 at 8:30 p.m.

The annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular is the city’s signature Fourth of July event.

The free event features a live concert from the Boston Pops orchestra, alongside guest performances by artists and groups like Kelli O’Hara, Darlene Love and The Mavericks. The music will be accompanied by a colorful fireworks display from the Charles River.

Learn more from the Boston Symphony Orchestra here.

Image courtesy of Boston Harborfest.

Boston Harborfest
Various event times and locations; Monday, July 1 to Thursday, July 4

Boston Harborfest is a four-day festival celebrating Boston’s maritime and revolutionary history. It is one of the country’s largest Fourth of July festivals.

Events include music and live performances, waterfront concerts and artisan markets and Harborfest fireworks visible from along Boston’s Inner Harbor near the Seaport.

Find a full schedule of events here.

Image courtesy of Downtown Boston.

The City of Boston’s Official Independence Day Commemoration
City Hall Plaza; Thursday, July 4 at 9 a.m.

The City of Boston will mark the beginning of the Fourth of July with a 9 a.m. flag raising ceremony downtown at City Hall Plaza (next to the Government Center MBTA stop).

The flag raising will be followed by a parade to the Granary Burial Ground to lay commemorative wreaths before continuing to the Old State House.

Learn more here.

Image courtesy of The Freedom Trail.

Freedom Trail Tours
Boston Common Visitor Information Center (139 Tremont St.); Any time

The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile walking trail that follows some of Boston’s, and the United States’, most famous American Revolution sites.

The tour is self-guided along a red-brick trail; however, you can purchase guided walk tours through several tour sites. There is also a Freedom Trail app (more details here).

Sites include Boston Common, the Massachusetts State House, Old South Meeting House, Old North Church, the USS Constitution, and more.

Learn more about the tours here.

Hit the Beach!
Various locations around Boston

You don’t have to drive all the way to the Cape to enjoy some beach time this weekend. There are several popular beaches located in the Boston area, with several accessible on MBTA routes.

Here are some options:

  1. Nahant, Lynn and King’s Beaches (MBTA Blue Line)
  2. Revere Beach (MBTA Blue Line)
  3. Castle Island (MBTA Red Line)
  4. L & M Street Beaches (MBTA Red Line)
  5. Carson Beach (MBTA Red Line)
  6. Singing Beach, Manchester-by-the-Sea (MBTA Commuter Rail – Rockport Line)

Check out this BU article with a more expansive list and transportation details.

And check out this BU Today article with even more top picks for planning your Fourth of July for 2024!

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