Boston Pops Fourth of July Esplanade Concert: What You Need to Know

Have you ever attended the free Boston Pops Fourth of July Spectacular on the Esplanade? It's one of those things that everyone should do once, or twice if you're nuts!

The annual Independence Day concert draws an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 people to the Edward A. Hatch Memorial Shell on the Charles River Esplanade in Boston's Back Bay each July 4.

If you don't do well in large crowds, this is not the event for you.

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My family has hosted several foreign exchange students over the years. In 2000, Marie, a 19-year-old student from France, spent the summer with us. We planned to show Marie how Americans celebrate the Fourth of July. We took her to the Boston Pops Fourth of July Spectacular on the Esplanade.

If you have ever watched the Pops' Fourth of July concert, you probably know that folks stake out spots on the Esplanade well before the concert begins. We arrived midafternoon and were fortunate to find a patch of dirt large enough to fit six people. I've seen larger sardine cans.

It's a good thing there were monitors, because we couldn't see the stage from where we were. We had a great view of the legendary fireworks from the river's edge, though.

Don McLean performed with the Pops that night and owned the crowd with "American Pie."

When Does the Boston Pops Fourth of July Concert Start?

Keith Lockhart will lead the Boston Pops July 4th Spectacular on Friday, July 4 at 7 p.m.

Who Will Be Performing With the Boston Pops This July 4?

According to the Boston Symphony Orchestra, “Keith Lockhart, celebrating his 30th anniversary as conductor of the Boston Pops, leads the orchestra alongside a talented lineup of guest performers headlined by multi platinum selling singer-songwriter LeAnn Rimes along with Leslie Odom, Jr., Bell Biv DeVoe, the U.S. Army Field Band Soldiers’ Chorus, and Boston Children’s Chorus.

When Do the Gates Open?

The Esplanade gates open at noon on July 4.

What Time Do the Esplanade Fireworks Begin?

The fireworks follow the concert at about 9:40 p.m.

What Can I Bring to the Esplanade on July 4?

You can bring folding chairs or beach chairs, as well as blankets or tarps as long as they’re not bigger than 10 feet by 10 feet. Only clear bags are allowed, and coolers must be either on a shoulder strap or single handle (no wheels). Any liquids must be in clear plastic containers of two liters or less (no glass or cans) and must be sealed.

Alcohol, tobacco and cannabis are prohibited. You also can’t bring grills, fireworks, drones, bikes, glass containers, backpacks, wheeled coolers or pets.

What Should I Expect at the Boston Pops Esplanade Concert?

Be prepared for massive crowds, plan parking in advance, and prepare to wait as it takes a while for the Esplanade to empty. Just remember, whatever you carry into the park, you've got to carry back out late at night, and it could be a long way back to the car – especially if you are also carrying sleepy children.

What If I'd Rather Watch the Boston Pops Esplanade Concert at Home?

If you don’t want to make the trek to Boston, you can watch the concert locally on WHDH-TV Channel 7 in Boston (7 p.m. to 10 p.m.), and nationally on The CW Network (9 p.m. to 10 p.m.).