Boston Fourth of July Concert and Fireworks

Charles River Esplanade
Boston, Massachusetts
Friday, July 4, 2003

Rather than bore you with hype, I'll get right into specifics:

Table of Contents

• Security Changes for 2002
• Fourth of July Events
• Special Tips for Visitors from Afar
• Other Information
• How To Get There
• Things to Bring
• Things to Not Bring
• Other Advice

Security Changes (2002)

• The oval in front of the Hatch Shell is a gated area. Show up early enough and you'll get a wristband once you've passed through the security checkpoint. The wristband lets you leave the area and return later.
• Nobody is allowed onto the oval until 9AM.
• A much larger area behind the Hatch Shell is off-limits.
• The Storrow Drive entrance near Arlington Street is off-limits. You'll need to use the Berkeley Street entrance instead.
• The islands, canals and lagoons in the Esplanade area are off-limits to boats.

For more detailed and updated information, see the official event restrictions page, as well as the area map.

Fourth of July Events

• USS Constitution Turnaround and 21-Gun Salute. Noon, Charlestown Navy Yard.
• Music groups and performers in the Hatch Shell area, all afternoon.
• The Concert. 8:30pm, Hatch Shell.
• The Fireworks. Following the concert, about 10:30pm. Visible from either side of the Charles River.

Special Tips for Visitors from Afar

• Fanueil Hall Marketplace. Quaint shops, restaurants, and pubs in an historic setting.
• The Swan Boats in the Public Garden. No visit to Boston would be complete without taking a ride on these.
• The Freedom Trail. Historic sites from the time of the Revolutionary War.
• The Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Science, the Childrens' Museum, the Museum of Afro-American History, Symphony Hall, the New England Aquarium. 'Nuff said?
• The State House. A center of greed and corruption rivaling Washington DC.
• Fenway Park. The smallest and most interesting ballpark in professional baseball, and likely to be torn down in a few years for a new ballpark.
• City Hall Plaza. Acres of windswept concrete. Why?
• The Big Pig ...erm... Dig. Four^H^H^H^HSeventeen billion dollars (and counting) to replace an overcrowded above-ground highway with what will be an overcrowded below-ground highway.

Other Information

• The concert and fireworks are free. There is no admission charge and no tickets (other than the wristbands mentioned above).
• The concert is broadcast on Channel 4 (WBZ) in the Boston area, and the last half hour of the concert and the fireworks are broadcast nationally on the CBS television network starting at 10:00 PM EDT.
• The odds strongly favor sunshine. Rain has fallen only three of the twenty years we have been attending the concert. The concert has never been canceled due to rain, the fireworks were canceled once.

How To Get There

Take the MBTA to the Arlington Street Station (on the Green Line). Leave the station via the Arlington Street exit (not the Berkeley Street exit). When you reach street level, head north on the left side of Arlington Street, following everyone else. (The Arlington Street Church will be next to you on your left and the Public Garden will be across the street on your right as you walk up Arlington St).

Follow Arlington Street until it ends at Beacon St. Cross Beacon St, turn left, and walk one block to Berkeley St. (Previously you would use the Storrow Drive entrance opposite Arlington St, but it is now off-limits.) Turn right on Berkeley St and cross Storrow Drive.

From this point, you're on your own. Find some uncovered grass and set down your blanket, or find your friends who came earlier.

Things to Bring

Food Related: A cooler, containing: Soda, fruit juice, or other liquid refreshment. Think about how much you will drink, and bring double that amount. On a hot day, you'll want it. Sandwiches, subs, or other meal-type food. Don't bring anything that needs heating, there are no cooking facilities available. Make the sandwiches ahead of time. Fruit, such as grapes, peaches, or apples. Ice to keep the above stuff cool. Snack foods, like chips, pretzels, cookies, or crackers. Keep dips or cheese in the cooler. Paper plates, plasticware, and napkins.

Clothing and Weather Protection:

• Sunscreen and sunglasses.
• A hat or visor.
• A light jacket or sweatshirt.
• A bathing suit and beach towel. There is a pool about 1/2 mile up Storrow Drive, and the MDC sets up sprinklers and a fire hose if it is a hot day.
• An umbrella, regardless of the weather forecast.

Games and Entertainment: Small, portable games or sports equipment. like frisbee, cards, or backgammon. Paper and pencils for scoring card games. Laptop with cellular modem. (Just kidding) Books. Camera. Binoculars.

Miscellaneous:

• Money for tolls or T fare, admission to pool, souvenirs and food. Warning: the food is very expensive.
• Trash bags. These are also useful for carrying wet bathing suits and towels back home.
• A hand truck, for transporting heavy coolers.
• American flags.

Things to Not Bring

• Alcohol. Police search coolers when you get there.
• Patio chairs, if you come by T.
• Barbecue equipment. No open fires are allowed.
• More than you can carry in one trip, if you come by T.
• In 2002, the list of forbidden items included hammers and tents or canopies with metal poles.

Other Advice

• If you come by T, buy a token for the return trip when leaving the Arlington Street T station.
• If you are meeting someone who is already there, arrive early. If you are meeting someone with space in the oval you must arrive before the wristbands run out, or you will not be allowed into the oval.
• It is difficult to meet people who arrive after 4:30pm or so, and almost impossible to meet people after 6:00pm. After that, forget it.
• Saving space for large parties planning to arrive later is no longer allowed.
• If you want the best view of both the orchestra and the fireworks, get a spot on the right side of the oval (from your perspective, as you face the Hatch Shell).
• Keep your cooler in the shade, the ice will last longer. Umbrellas and towels come in handy for this task.
• Don't plan on parking in downtown Boston after 7:30am. If you do drive, try to park on Newbury Street (when leaving, go straight until you see the Mass. Turnpike entrance). If you will be arriving after 7:30am, take the T.
• A paper grocery bag placed inside a plastic grocery bag makes a good carrying container for stuff that doesn't need to be kept cool. A small overnight bag or backpack also works well.
• If you come by T, make sure you can carry all of your stuff in one trip. The trip back after the fireworks will be easier, as the cooler will be empty (and can be used to carry stuff).
• Bring a hand truck to make it easier to lug around heavy coolers.
• If you have small children who tend to stray, bring a harness or leash to keep them from wandering off. Also, put a nametag on them in case they do get lost.
• Make your final trip to the bathroom by 6:30pm. After that, the crowds are too thick for you to return.