With so much happening in Boston this Friday, it may be hard to decide what to do in Boston. Check out some of these great options:
Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular One of the biggest draws on the Fourth of July is the annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, which is televised nationally on CBS. Across the city, many Bostonians gather on bridges and rooftops to watch the fireworks while others trek to the Charles River Esplanade to watch the Boston Pops perform live, starting at 8:30 p.m. This year’s musical guest is country group Rascal Flatts, who will accompany the Boston Pops in their biggest concert of the year. Organizers said the best seats to see the concert are in The Oval, the patch of grass directly in front of the Hatch Shell, which often fills up by noon. In the past, fireworks spectators could watch from the Longfellow Bridge, but the state has ordered the bridge closed to pedestrians Friday night due to the potential for accident – the bridge has started to crumble and some experts fear walkways could collapse should too many people stand on it. The fireworks start at 10:30 p.m.
If you decide to go … Consider attending the Thursday rehearsal concert instead. It’s held the same time as Friday’s event, but is much less crowded. While organizers say The Oval fills up by mid-morning Friday, space is usually still available into the evening Thursday. The concert starts at 8:30 p.m.
Dick Cheney on the Constitution Vice President Dick Cheney will visit Old Ironsides, the USS Constution, for a military reenlistment ceremony. Security will certainly be tight, but if you get there early enough, you might get a chance to see him. Specific details for the vice president’s trip have not been released.
If you decide to go … Be ready for huge crowds. The area is packed tight on a regular day, and Secret Service presence will almost certainly make the place more crowded than usual.
Footloose on the Freedom Trail It’s Independence Day, so why not spend the morning exploring the city where the American Revolution began? Meet at the steps of the Massachusetts State House at 9 a.m. for a three-hour guided tour of the Freedom Trail. When the tour reaches the Old State House, be sure to stick around for a reading of the Declaration of Independence, a tradition in Boston that dates back to 1776. Tours are a little pricy at $15 a person, but reservations aren’t required.
If you decide to go … You might also consider walking the Freedom Trail on your own, just ahead or right behind a tour. You’ll still get to see a lot of the same stuff, but you’ll save some money.
