The Boston Pops annual Fourth of July concert has historically concluded with a dazzling fireworks display over the Charles River. This year, with the Pops performing at Tanglewood, the fireworks display will be on the Boston Common, starting at 10:30 pm. Photo courtesy iStock/sorsillo

Things-to-do

Spending the Fourth of July Weekend in Boston? We’ve Got You Covered

Your guide to fun-filled Independence Day festivities

When it comes to celebrating the Fourth of July, there’s probably no better place to be than Boston. After all, 5 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence hailed from Massachusetts. And Boston has a long tradition of doing the holiday up in style. 

This year, thanks to vaccines, Independence Day will look a lot different—and better—than last year. While many traditional events are still on hold, fireworks are back, along with concerts and the annual Boston Harborfest. Check out our list of what to do this holiday weekend—and Happy Fourth!

Saturday, July 3

Boston Harborfest

Boston Harborfest makes its highly anticipated return this holiday weekend after being sidelined last year by the pandemic. Saturday’s program features range from an arts and crafts market on Summer Street at Downtown Crossing to fitness programs to live puppetry, culminating with a fireworks display over the Boston Harbor at 9:15 pm. Other noteworthy events: a classic car showcase from 11 am to 2 pm on Summer Street, around the corner from South Station. The live music, including performances by the Middlesex County Volunteers, which bills itself as the nation’s premier fife, drum, and color guard, a gospel choir, and opera and classical music, kicks off starting at noon at Long Wharf.

The 39th annual Boston Harborfest runs through Sunday, July 4. Many events are free. Find a complete schedule of events here.

Take the MBTA Green Line to Park Street, then change to the Red Line towards Braintree. Get off at South Station, which is two stops away from Park Street. Then take a short walk to Long Wharf.

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

For fans of presidential history, the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum is essential viewing. The nation’s 35th president was born in Brookline, Mass. The library and museum, which has been closed because of COVID-19, reopens to the public with free admission on Saturdays and Sundays through July and August, from 10 am to 2 pm. Timed entry tickets from 10 am to 12:45 pm are required. The museum features a dozen permanent exhibits and utilizes high-definition, large-screen projections, interactive displays, remastered films, and original artifacts from the life and times of JFK to tell the story of his 1,000 days in office. Located on Columbia Point, the museum also offers sweeping views of Boston Harbor. 

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is at Columbia Point. For GPS, the address is 220 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, 02215. The museum is open to the public free of charge from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, starting July 3 through August. Timed entry tickets are required and can be ordered online here. 

Sunday, July 4

Fourth of July Kickoff Ceremony, Parade, and Reading of the Declaration of Independence

Boston kicks off its Independence Day Celebration at City Hall with a brief program led by Mayor Kim Janey at 9 am, followed by a short parade from City Hall Plaza to Tremont Street starting at 9:20 am. The procession will stop briefly at the Granary Burying Ground, where wreaths will be laid on the graves of patriots Peter Faneuil, Crispus Attucks, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Robert Treat Paine, the last three signers of the Declaration of Independence. The parade will continue through Downtown Crossing to the Old State House, where the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company will continue its tradition of reading the Declaration of Independence from the balcony at approximately 9:45 am. Parade viewing will be available along the route and in Downtown Crossing.  

The kickoff ceremony and parade, free and open to the public, begins at 9 am at City Hall Plaza, One City Hall Square. Take an MBTA Green Line trolley to Government Center or an Orange Line train to State Street.

The Declaration of Independence reading, free and open to the public, is at 9:45 am at the Old State House, 206 Washington St. Take an MBTA Green Line trolley to Park Street or Government Center or an Orange Line train to State Street.

Freedom Trail Tour 

There’s no better way to appreciate America’s fight for independence and Boston’s pivotal role in it than by taking a tour of the Freedom Trail. For $25, a tour guide will take you along the 2.5-mile collection of parks, museums, churches, and meeting houses that mark the city’s ties to the Revolutionary War. They’ll bring the stories of famous patriots like John Hancock and Paul Revere to life, and introduce you to lesser-known historical figures, as well. You’ll also learn about major events like the Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre.

The Freedom Trail Tours are held from 10:30 am to 1 pm. Take an MBTA Green Line trolley to Park Street and walk through Boston Common to the Massachusetts State House. Tickets are $25 for those nine and older, and free for those younger than eight. Book tickets here. 

USS Constitution Turnaround 

Each year on July 4, the USS Constitution (also known as “Old Ironsides”) makes her annual turnaround cruise in Boston Harbor. The 204-foot-long ship first launched in 1797 and today is the oldest commissioned warship in the world. The ship will depart from the Charlestown Navy Yard at approximately 10 am, setting sail for Fort Independence on Castle Island in Boston Harbor. At 11:30 am, the magnificent wood-hulled ship will fire a 21-gun salute, before heading back into the Inner Harbor, where it will exchange cannon fire with US Coast Guard Base Boston in the North End. Upon returning to the Navy Yard, the ship will offer free admission from 3 to 6 pm, where visitors can meet and speak with active duty US Navy sailors. The best places to view the turnaround are from the Charlestown Navy Yard, the Boston Harborwalk, and Fort Independence at Castle Island.

To reach the Charlestown Navy Yard, take an MBTA Green Line trolley to Haymarket, then take an MBTA 93 bus from Congress St @ Haymarket St to Chelsea St @ Fifth St. The museum suggests making a $10 to $15 donation for admission.

The Boston Pops July 4 Spectacular

One of Boston’s most beloved July 4 events is back this year, but with a twist. The world-famous Boston Pops will host the annual Fourth of July concert, but instead of its usual free concert on the Esplanade, the Pops will be performing before a crowd of 9,000 at Tanglewood in the Berkshires. This year’s concert, which is sold out, will include performances by Jon Batiste, the bandleader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame singer Mavis Staples. Don’t have tickets to hear the Pops in person? No worries: the concert will air live in Boston on WHDH-TV Channel 7 and stream on Bloomberg TV, and can also be heard locally on the radio at 106.1 FM and nationally on SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Pops conductor Keith Lockhart (Hon.’04) will lead the Pops in the two-and-a-half-hour concert that will also feature the US Air Force Singing Sergeants. In keeping with tradition, the concert will conclude with a rousing performance of Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and scenes of the fireworks finale from the Boston Common starting at 10:30 pm.

The Boston Pops July 4 Spectacular begins at 8 pm and concludes at 11 pm.

Fourth of July Fireworks on Boston Common

The Boston Pops annual Fourth of July concert historically concludes with a dazzling fireworks display over the Charles River. This year, with the Pops performing at Tanglewood, the fireworks display will be on the Boston Common, starting at 10:30 pm. So, grab a lawn chair and head on down to the Common for a pyrotechnics show you won’t soon forget. Be sure to arrive early to get a good seat. Don’t like big crowds? You can also view the fireworks from Larz Anderson Park at 23 Newton St., Brookline.