Luxury Guide

Fourth of July Celebrations

The Fourth of July is not only the single most important date in the American calendar and the birthday of the nation, but is also timed to be the culmination of the Boston Harborfest celebrations, guaranteeing an awesome day and night of public rejoicing. The day begins with a flag-raising at 9am and a small parade that visits the Granary burial grounds (where many famous New England patriots of the revolutionary period were laid to rest) before gathering outside the old Historic State House. Situated on the corner of State and Devonshire St, in the days of British sovereignty the building was adorned with the golden Lion and Unicorn, symbolising British rule. This was torn down in 1776 and was not restored for historical purposes until the late 1880s due to the depth of anti-British feeling on the part of the New Englanders. It is from the balcony of the State House that the Declaration of Independence was first read and the tradition continues to this day.

The main festivities occur in the evening, when more than 300,000 people gather on the banks of the Charles River for a performance by the famous Boston Pops Orchestra at the Hatch Memorial Shell before ten acres of grass that is packed full every 4th July, with even more in the audience on the other side of the river and on a flotilla of boats in between. The evening climaxes with a thunderous firework display above the river.