More than 500,000 people from all over New England and the world flock to Boston over the Fourth of July for the annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. The event, which features a spectacular fireworks display and live music by the Boston Pops Orchestra, was first presented in 1974 and has become an Independence Day tradition. There is no charge for admission to the popular event.
Plan to be at the entrance to the Esplanade by 9 a.m. on the Fourth of July. Free ticket distribution begins then, and since it's first come-first served, tickets are usually gone by early afternoon. The Esplanade is located on the Charles River, between the Massachusetts Avenue and Longfellow bridges, so plan your departure time accordingly.
Take the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Boston's public transportation system. Depending on your starting location, take the red line to Charles Street/MGH station or the green line to Arlington Station. Parking is very limited, so public transportation is a smarter bet.
Walk to the Esplanade from the transit station. Walk to Beacon Street, from which you can enter the Esplanade by turning onto Berkeley, Clarendon, Dartmouth. Fairfield or Massachusetts Avenue.
Line up at one of the three marked entry gates leading into "the Oval," the name of the grassy stretch of lawn directly in front of the Esplanade's Hatch Stage shell. The stage is where the orchestra plays during the fireworks show.
Take your tickets---usually in the form of a wristband---from the line worker. The tickets are free, and once you have yours, you can enter and leave the park for the rest of the day.
Plan to be at the park by 8:30 p.m. to hear the beginning of the concert. Fireworks start at the conclusion of the orchestra's performance, usually around 10:30 p.m. Since seats can be hard to find, you may want to pack a picnic dinner (no alcoholic beverages or grills are allowed inside the park), or plan to eat at one of the Esplanade concession stands to secure a good location.
