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There is a lot going on during the July 4th weekend in Boston celebrating our nation's independence. 

Transportation

Click here for a link to the MBTA's July 4th service schedule. The T will be free after 9:30 pm on July 4th.

Celebrate on the Esplanade

The big fireworks celebration is over the Charles River by the Esplanade and Hatch Shell on July 4th. The Boston Pops will perform starting at 8:30 pm from the Hatch Shell, which will be broadcasted live on WBZ-TV, or listen to it on the radio at 99.5 WCRB. The fireworks begin over the Charles River at 10:30 pm. 

The Boston Pops are also performing at the Hatch Shell on July 3rd at 8:30 pm. 

Click here for more information about the july 3rd and 4th celebrations on the Esplanade. 

 

Boston Harborfest - July 1st - July 5th

Boston Harborfest celebrates the American Revolution in Boston with numerous events happening throughout the downtown area. Harborfest runs from July 1st to July 5th. Below are several of the events happening in the BID and harbor area. Click on the above link for a full schedule and details.

On July 2nd attend "Whispers of Revolution" at the Old South Meeting House from noon to 2 pm. A Patriot and Tory share how the Boston Tea Party was planned in secrecy in backrooms, taverns and storerooms. All Harborfest activities are free with museum admission and free to all museum members. Call 617-482-6439 for more info.

On July 4th, the Old State House (206 Washington St.) is hosting an Independence Day edition of "Revolutionary Characters Live!" from 2 to 2:30 pm. Come meet Thomas Crafts and hear his tale of reading the Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Old State House on July 18th, 1776, when the document finally made its way to Boston. Admission is free with museum admission, which is $10 for adults and free for children younger than 18.

Also on July 4th at the Old State House is an "Independence Comes to Boston Tour" from 3 to 3:30 pm. Free with admission, which is $10 for adults and free for children younger than 18. Call 617-720-1713 x27 for more information. 

 

Freedom Trail Celebrates Harborfest with an Expanded Schedule

Starting July 1st, the Freedom Trail Foundation’s expanded schedule will include two new Walk Into History Tours offered daily at 3:30 pm from the ArtsBoston Bostix booth at Faneuil Hall and at 4:30 pm from the Boston Common Visitor Information Center.  On July 2nd and July 3rd, African-American Patriots Tours step off at noon from the Boston Common Visitor Information Center.  Additionally, the exciting and ever popular Pirates & Patriots Tour will take place on July 3rd through July 5th at 1 pm from the ArtsBoston Bostix booth at Faneuil Hall, and a special Historic Pub Crawl is available July 2nd at 5:30 pm from the ArtsBoston Bostix booth at Faneuil Hall.

The full Freedom Trail schedule offers tours from morning to evening.  Walk Into History Tours are the official 90-minute walking tours of the Freedom Trail, walking to 11 of Boston’s historic Freedom Trail sites from Boston Common and Faneuil Hall. Walk Into History Tours depart from the Boston Common Visitor Information Center hourly from 11 am to 4 pm and 4:30 pm daily, and depart from the ArtsBoston BosTix booth at Faneuil Hall at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 3:30 pm daily. North End Tours depart from the ArtsBoston BoxTix booth at Faneuil Hall at 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm daily to explore Boston’s oldest neighborhood, and Pirates & Patriots Tours depart from ArtsBoston Bostix booth at Faneuil Hall at 1 pm, Fridays through Sundays.

Led by 18^th-century costumed guides, all Freedom Trail Foundation walking tours are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors/students, and $8 for children, and include a $1 donation to the Freedom Trail Foundation’s Preservation Fund. Tickets may be purchased at the Boston Common Visitor Information Center, ArtsBoston BosTix booths at Faneuil Hall and Copley Square, Old Town Trolley locations and ticket booths, and online at TheFreedomTrail.org. 

 

In the BID

BID Ambassadors will be present on the streets 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as per usual. BID Ambassadors are available to offer directions to visitors, residents, tourists and anyone else. 

Busineses that are open in the BID can use the hashtag #OpeninBos to share their status on social media. Eater.com has a list of restaurants open in all of the Boston area, which can be seen here.

Walgreens (School and Washington streets) is open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Macy's is also open on July 4th.

The following restaurants in the BID are open on July 4th:

Back Deck (2 West St.)

Barracuda Tavern (15 Bosworth St.)

Cheeseboy (280 Washington St.)

Cocobeet (100 City Hall Plaza)

David's Tea (298 Washington St.)

Fajitas & 'Ritas (25 West St.)

Legal Crossing (558 Washington St.) - All Legal Sea Foods are open on July 4th

The Merchant (60 Franklin St.)

PAUL One Boston Place (201 Washington St.)

Scholars (25 School St.)

Teatro (177 Tremont St.)

Thirst Juice Co. (44 School St.)