Boston July 4th Fireworks, Festivities And More: 2019 Guide

BOSTON, MA — Fireworks will light up the night sky over the Charles River on July 4 to create the one of the largest celebrations for the country's 243rd birthday.

Hundreds of thousands of viewers will watch in awe from the banks of the river and from vantage points in apartments and on city rooftops on both the Cambridge and the Boston side of the river. More will view the spectacle from their TV sets at home as the colorful pyrotechnics are fired off from barges positioned in the Charles, starting at approximately 10:30 p.m.

It wouldn't be July 4 in Boston if it weren't for the military flyover and the mouth-dropping display of fireworks illuminating the Boston sky as Keith Lockhart leads the Boston Pops to a rousing crescendo. Fun fact: This is Lockhart's 25th year leading the Pops on July 4.

(You can see all the road closures, prohibited items, and times and more below.)

This year's festivities will be split between July 3 (dress rehearsal concert) and July 4, with the 21-minute fireworks display taking place at 10:30 p.m. Thursday. The gates open at 5 p.m. on Wednesday and 9 a.m. on Thursday. You can watch the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular Wednesday night on the Bloomberg TV. (check out more websites to stream it below).

Queen Latifa and Arlo Guthrie

Hold onto your hats, folks, the headliner for the 2018 Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, under the direction of Lockhart, will be Queen Latifah and Arlo Guthrie. Yes, the Queen Latifah, and the Arlo Guthrie.

Guthrie, incidentally, will perform a musical tribute a half-century in the making—Summer of ’69—commemorating the 50th anniversary of Woodstock.

You'll also hear from the Texas Tenors, and 16 year-old Amanda Mena of Lynn (both of whom you may recognize from "America's Got Talent") and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus.

A special surprise this year? The first-ever U.S. youth poet laureate (who has already announced her intention to run for president in 17 years) will be performing a poem as the Pops accompany her with the "Battle Hymn of the Republic."

But the highlight is that 20-minute pyrotechnic extravaganza from Grucci Fireworks, which recently broke two Guinness World Records: one for longest chain of fireworks, and one for the longest straight line of fireworks.

“I know I join many here in Boston and around the country when I say that my wish for this year’s Fourth of July is that all Americans come together in a spirit of celebration around the foundational ideas and shared history that have guided us through both good and difficult times since the country’s founding 243 years ago," said Lockhart in a statement.

What is the music that will play with the Fireworks?

• Flight To Never Never Land, John Williams BSO
• Faith, Stevie Wonder ft. Ariana Grande
• You Make My Dreams, Hall & Oats
• This is My Country, Boston Pops Orchestra
• Think (Freedom), Aretha Franklin
• Never Comin’ Down, Keith Urban
• A Million Dreams, Pink
• Doodletown Fifers, Boston Pops Orchestra
• Shining Star, Earth Wind & Fire
• Burn Out, Martin Garrix & Justin Mylo
• Never Enough, Loren Allred Tchaikovsky Symphony #5 in E Minor, BSO

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It is strongly suggested you try as hard as humanly possible to not drive in with the intention of parking. Instead, take public transportation, walk or bike. MBTA will not collect fares from 9:30 p.m. until the end of service. Also: If you're wondering what the road closures are going to look like, check this handy guide out.

What time to get there?

Wednesday, July 3:

• 5 p.m. Gates open
• 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. Dress rehearsal concert

Oval: The Oval Checkpoint will be located between the Lagoon's Clarendon Footbridge and the Berkeley Footbridge. Access to the checkpoint can best be accomplished by accessing the Esplanade from Berkeley Street after 4 p.m. Those arriving to the Esplanade prior to 4 p.m. should use the Dartmouth or Fairfield Street Footbridges over Storrow Drive. (In case you're wondering what the "Oval" is? It's the grass-filled area directly in front of the DCR Hatch Shell.).

Island /Lagoon: There will also be an Island/Lagoon area checkpoint. This checkpoint will be located on the Island/Lagoon by the Clarendon Bridge. This checkpoint will also open at 5 p.m. on July 3, and may be accessed from the Lagoon's Clarendon, Exeter and Fairfield Footbridges. Access to the checkpoint can best be accomplished by accessing the Esplanade from Berkeley Street after 4 p.m. Those arriving to the Esplanade prior to 4 p.m. should use the Dartmouth or Fairfield Street Footbridges over Storrow Drive.

Thursday, July 4:

• 9 a.m. Gates open
• 8 p.m. - 10: 30 p.m. Concert
• 10:30 p.m. - 11 p.m. Fireworks

Oval: The Oval Checkpoint will be located between the Lagoon's Clarendon Footbridge and the Berkeley Footbridge. Access to the checkpoint can best be accomplished by accessing the Esplanade from Berkeley Street.
Island /Lagoon: Access to the Island/Lagoon checkpoints can best be accomplished by using Beacon Street to Clarendon Street or utilizing the Dartmouth or Fairfield Street Footbridges over Storrow Drive. Checkpoints will be located at the Clarendon and Exeter Footbridges. The Fairfield Footbridge over the Lagoon will be designated as EXIT Only from the Island over the Lagoon

Where are we going?

The event takes place along the Charles River, at the DCR Hatch Shell on the Esplanade between the Longfellow and Massachusetts Avenue Bridges, on both the Boston and Cambridge sides of the river.

Sadly there will be no fireworks viewing allowed from the Longfellow and Mass. Ave Bridges.

There are two main gates to secured areas. The Oval and the Island/Lagoon. Spectators entering these areas will be required to pass through one of the bag check/screening entrances and will receive a wristband specifically for that area, which must be worn at all times during the event to ensure access in and out of that secured area. When the secured areas are full on July 3rd and July 4th, NO additional wristbands will be distributed.

The Oval and Island entrances to the Esplanade are best accessed from Storrow Drive at Berkeley, Clarendon and Dartmouth Streets. Arthur Fiedler foot bridge will be closed to foot traffic.

¿Dónde está el baño?

There will be port-a-potties. You'll see them.

Food?

There will be vendors on both sides of the river.

Prohibited items:

1. No coolers on wheels.
2. No backpacks.
3. No firearms, weapons, sharp objects or fireworks.
4. No glass containers.
5. No cans.
6. No pre-mixed beverages.
7. All liquids will be carried in sealed clear plastic containers not to exceed 2 liters.
8. No grilling, propane tanks or open flames.
9. No Alcoholic beverages.
10. No bicycles will be allowed through the checkpoints into the Oval or Island/Lagoon areas. Bicycles are allowed throughout the rest of the venue but must not be left unattended. Bicycles attached or locked to security fences, poles, or other structures may be subject to removal. (This measure is being enacted for public safety and crowd management in the event a speedy evacuation becomes necessary at the Esplanade.)
11. No one entering the venue will be allowed to bring an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), commonly referred to as a "drone," onto the premises.

The following items are allowed:
1. Pop up Tents/Canopies with no sides - maximum size 10' x10'. (Above for July 4th only; No Tents/Canopies allowed on July 3rd).
2. Blankets or tarps no bigger than 10' x 10'.
3. Folding/Beach Chairs only.
4. Coolers, which must be carried in by shoulder strap or single handle (no wheeled coolers).
5. All personal items must be carried in clear bags only.
6. After inspection, small clutch bags/purses may be taken into the venue with the clear bag.

So the Esplanade is too crowded for you? Try these spots:

Hang out on the Cambridge side. There will be speakers set up so folks can hear the concert at the Hatch Shell.

Check out Castle Island — Venture out to Castle Island. The park overlooks the Boston Harbor, and if it's a clear night, you’ll be able to see other towns’ fireworks along with Boston’s own show on the Esplanade.

Go to the top of the hill at Larz Anderson in Brookline if it's a clear night.

Or head to the top of the Arnold Arboretum in JP.

Can't be there in person? Try these options.

Bloomberg TV can be found on the following channels: DISH: Channel 203; Verizon: Channel 104; and DirectTV: Channel 353. Comcast, 45, 757 or 844. It will be streaming online at Bloomberg.com or you can check it at bostonpopsjuly4th.org. Two years ago the pops introduced an app for this, too. Look for the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular App for iOS and Android devices, providing up-to-the-minute detailed event, broadcast, and schedule information.

On July 3rd, the concert begins at 8 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m. On July 4th, the television broadcast begins at 8 p.m., the concert starts at 8 p.m. and ends at 10:30 p.m. with a fireworks display from 10:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

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Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).