The Boston Pops will perform their annual Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular at the Hatch Memorial Shell on the Charles River Esplanade the evening of the Fourth. Photo by Michael Blanchard

Things-To-Do

Celebrate the Fourth of July Weekend in Boston

Parades, festivals, movies, and more commemorate America’s 247th birthday

The Fourth of July weekend is approaching, bringing the biggest birthday party of the year to Boston. Get ready to see the city turn red, white, and blue as it commemorates 247 years of American independence. 

The annual Boston Harborfest, a parade, and fireworks have you covered Friday through Tuesday—but there’s even more to explore. Sip and eat in the Founding Fathers’ favorite tavern or catch a live reading of the Declaration of Independence. Then, when it’s time to take your Fourth of July festivities from historical to modern day, enjoy the Red Sox game happening specially on the fourth. 

Teeming with stories of rebellion and patriotism, Boston is the place to be this weekend. Check out our guide of events for a full list of Independence Day fun. 

Happy Fourth of July! 

Friday, June 30 

Boston Harborfest

Boston Harborfest, the largest Independence Day festival in the country, kicks off on Friday with remarks by public officials. That afternoon, the Massachusetts 215th Army Band will perform at Downtown Crossing. From all day Friday through Tuesday, Harborfest events will fill downtown Boston. On Saturday, watch Macy’s annual fashion show at Downtown Crossing, then catch the Harborfest fireworks on the waterfront. On Monday afternoon, sample chowders from local restaurants at Boston Chowderfest, then vote for your favorite. When the Fourth of July finally arrives on Tuesday morning, enjoy the annual Independence Day parade, which starts at 9 am, makes its way around Boston, and includes a wreath-laying ceremony on the graves of Patriots. The reading of the Declaration of Independence comes right after. Don’t miss the chance to see a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company read the document—a tradition since 1776—from the Old State House balcony. 

The 41st annual Boston Harborfest runs through Tuesday, July 4. Check out the schedule here for a complete list of free and paid events. 

Warren Tavern

Before celebrating the country they helped form, get to know the Founding Fathers by attending one of their favorite watering holes. Warren Tavern was built in 1780 and boasts historic guests like George Washington and Paul Revere. One of the oldest taverns in Massachusetts, the restaurant serves local craft beers and pub fare, as well as staples like lobster rolls and shepherd’s pie. Bunker Hill Monument is only a short walk away, where you can visit the statue of General Joseph Warren, the tavern’s namesake. At the nearby Bunker Hill Museum, learn more about the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill and the history of Charlestown. 

Warren Tavern, 7 Pleasant St., Charlestown. Hours are 11 am to 1 am every day except Saturday, when it opens at 10 am. 

Saturday, July 1 

Chinatown Main Street Summer Festival 

Discover art vendors, dance performances, street food, and more at Chinatown Main Street’s 19th annual summer festival. From 10 am to 6 pm, vendors and live performances will fill the Rose Kennedy Greenway just outside the traditional Chinatown gate. Immerse yourself in Chinatown’s vibrant culture as you watch lion dance performances and traditional Chinese folk dancers. Built in the 19th century, Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood is one of the largest in the nation. Chinatown remains an important cultural hub of the city today, with multiple restaurants, dumpling houses, markets, and bakeries lining its streets. 

Chinatown Main Street Summer Festival, July 1, from 10 am to 6 pm, at the Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston. 

King’s Chapel Bell and Bones Tour

Located in the heart of downtown Boston, King’s Chapel is a National Historic Landmark, with centuries of stories to tell about the city. King’s Chapel was built in 1754, and was a place of worship through British colonial rule, independence, theological revolution, and more. The 45-minute spooky Bell and Bones Tour leads visitors through the many historic events the chapel witnessed, as well as shares details about the building’s beautiful architecture. Explore the ground level, galleries, and crypt, where you’ll learn about colonial burial practices in one of the only surviving church crypts in New England. 

Tours last 45 minutes and run Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm. Each tour starts on the hour, with tickets priced at $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and $5 for children. King’s Chapel is at 58 Tremont St., Boston. Buy tickets here. 

Sunday, July 2

Road to Revolution Tour 

Learn about the American Revolution as you step into the very buildings and streets it started in. The Road to Revolution Tour takes visitors through iconic landmarks like King’s Chapel, the Old State House—site of the Boston Massacre—the Paul Revere House, and more. Lasting two hours, this in-depth tour is a great way to learn more about Boston’s history. The tour also follows part of the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile red line that connects Boston’s many historic landmarks. If you’d prefer to skip the tour, explore the trail on your own with a book or map. Stop for refreshment along the way at historic eateries like Green Dragon Tavern, where historians say the Sons of Liberty planned the Boston Tea Party. 

Tours start at 10 am Wednesday through Sunday, with a 4 pm option available on Saturday. Tickets are $16 for adults and $9 for children. Tours begin at the corner of Tremont and Beacon Streets, across from King’s Chapel. Buy tickets here. 

1776 Screening at Regent Theatre 

Listen, learn, and laugh as you watch 1776, a musical comedy film adaptation of the popular Broadway musical, at Regent Theatre. Released in 1972, 1776 retells the Founding Fathers’ political struggle as they constructed America. Starring William Daniels and Ken Howard, the Oscar-nominated film focuses on the efforts of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence. W the Founding Fathers harmonizing on the big screen at the 1916-built Regent Theatre in Arlington.

1776 screens June 30 through July 3 at Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington. Tickets are $17 for general admission; seniors and students under 18 get $5 off. Buy tickets here. 

Monday July 3 

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum 

Voted best patriotic attraction by USA Today, Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum immerses visitors in the 1773 Boston Tea Party. The tour starts in the museum’s Meeting House, where a costumed guide (Samuel Adams!) sets the scene of a country on the brink of revolution. Aboard replicas of 18th-century ships, visitors can relive the Boston Tea Party by throwing tea off of the vessels. Then, they can view the ensuing debate between a Patriot and Loyalist on Griffin’s Wharf in a 3D reenactment. There’s even a tea chest from the original Boston Tea Party to discover, with information tracing its path from China to the Boston Harbor over two centuries ago. When it’s time for refreshments, Abigail’s Tea Room & Terrace serves up five of the original teas thrown into the harbor in 1773, as well as an assortment of delicious scones and sandwiches. The tea room is open to the public without a general admission ticket. 

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, at 306 Congress St., Boston. Tickets are $35 to $40 for general admission; $25 for children. Buy tickets here. 

Tuesday, July 4th 

Thompson Island Ferry

Thompson Island is a beacon of natural beauty in Boston, with salt marshes, herons, egrets, meadows, and fruit trees that invite endless exploration. Since 1833, the island has also been an educational institution. Thompson Island Outward Bound offers students free experiential learning opportunities, blending academics with social and emotional lessons. This Fourth of July, Thompson Island Outward Bound is offering a $10 round-trip ferry ride to visit the scenic island and engage with its natural beauty. The ferry leaves South Boston at noon and returns to the mainland at 4 pm. After a brief orientation by a Thompson Island staff member, guests have access to the island’s Conservation Area, beaches, and shoreline. Located in the heart of the Boston Harbor Islands National & State Park, Thompson Island provides the perfect way to celebrate not only America’s independence, but also its breathtaking natural beauty during this patriotic weekend. 

Thompson Island Outward Bound Ferry leaves from the EDIC Pier in South Boston, next to South Boston–Seaport Park. Ferries usually leave every Saturday and Sunday at 9 am, except on July 4, when the ferry leaves at noon. 

Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers 

What better way to commemorate the country’s birthday than by enjoying its favorite sport? Stop by Fenway Park on July 4 to watch the Boston Red Sox face off against the Texas Rangers. The game begins at 1:35 pm, and the first 7,500 fans will get a free Chris Sale 4th of July bucket hat. Fenway Park—the oldest baseball stadium in the country—also offers special perks for high school and college students. By signing up for the Boston Red Sox Student9s program, students can get $9 tickets for select home games. The program alerts students by phone or email when discounted tickets are available for purchase. 

The Boston Red Sox take on the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, July 4, at 1:35 pm at Fenway Park, 4 Jersey St., Boston. Tickets are available online. More transportation and parking details can be found here. Find more information about buying tickets to Red Sox games here.

Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular

Lights, music, and fanfare return to the Charles River Esplanade this year at 8 pm on July 4. Don’t miss the annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, a 1929 tradition that combines a free concert by Boston Symphony’s Pops Orchestra with spectacular fireworks. The event takes place at the Hatch Memorial Shell, and Keith Lockhart (Hon.’04) will return as conductor. This year, special guests include award-winning R&B/soul group En Vogue, Broadway star Mandy Gonzalez, and country duo LOCASH, among others. The US Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus will also perform during the evening. If you’re unable to attend in person, the event will be broadcast live on Bloomberg TV and radio and WHDH-TV Channel 7. Patriotic, fun, and—best of all—free to the public, this beloved tradition marks a celebratory end to Boston’s biggest birthday weekend. 

The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular concert begins at 8 pm, with fireworks at 10:30 pm, at the Hatch Memorial Shell, 47 David G. Mugar Way, and is free and open to the public. Note: plan to arrive early. Gates open at noon and space is expected to fill quickly. Security will be tight; find a list of banned and allowable items and other security details here.