Boston Pops Fourth of July 2016 Celebration: Your Complete Guide

Image Credit: Wikimedia/Pablo Valerio

Boston, MA — The American tradition continues Monday as thousands of Bostons residents and visitors put on their best red, while, and blue outfit and head to the Hatch Shell for the 43rd Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular.

The all-star event features some of the biggest names in music along with Boston Pops. This year, Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas, and Little Big Town will join the Pops on stage before the fireworks by Grucci go off over the Charles River.

Whether you're preparing to get your spot on the Esplanade or want to enjoy the show from home, here's what you need to know!

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• Massachusetts Fireworks Schedules

Television and Radio Information

WBZ is the official station for the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. Lisa Hughes and David Wade will start the evening at 8 p.m. before CBS takes over with the national broadcast at 8 p.m. WBZ Newsradio 1030 has radio coverage and the webcast will be on CBSBoston.com,

Parking and Transportation Information

It is highly recommended that you take public transportation but if you need a place to park, the Motor Mart Garage, located at 201 Stuart St., is the recommended garage. Otherwise, two closest T-stations on the Boston side are Charles-MGH on the Red Line, and Arlington on the Green Line. On the Cambridge side, the Kendall and Central Square stations on the Red Line are nearby.

The Boston Fourth of July website has more information for handicap parking.

For more information on the T and the Commuter Rail schedule, head over to the MBTA website.

Gates and Security

Gates to the Hatch Shell open at 9 a.m. Guests will have to go through either the Island/Lagoon or Oval checkpoint to gain entry to the area. Once at the checkpoint, there will be a bag check/screening area. Afterwards, guests will receive a wristband that will allow them to go in and out of the area. Once the areas are full, no more people will be allowed into the area.

The Oval Checkpoint will be located between the Lagoon’s Clarendon Footbridge and the Berkeley Footbridge and the Island/Lagoon Checkpoint is by the Clarendon Bridge.

Click here for more information.

What You Can and Can’t Bring
Bring

• Pop up Tents/Canopies with no sides - maximum size 10’ x10’ (For July 4th only Blankets or tarps no bigger than 10’ x 10’
• Folding/Beach Chairs
• Coolers, which must be carried in by shoulder strap or single handle (no wheeled coolers).
• All liquids must be carried in sealed clear plastic containers not to exceed 2 liters in size
• All personal items must be carried in clear bags only.
• After inspection, small clutch bags/purses may be taken into the venue with the clear bag .

Leave at Home:

• Coolers on wheels
• Backpacks
• Firearms, weapons, sharp objects (includes umbrellas), and fireworks
• glass containers
• Cans
• Pre-mixed beverages
• Grills, propane tanks, and open flames
• Alcoholic beverages
• No bicycles will be allowed through the checkpoints into the Oval or Island/Lagoon areas. Bicycles are allowed throughout the rest of the venue but must not be left unattended. Bicycles attached or locked to security fences, poles, or other structures may be subject to removal. (This measure is being enacted for public safety and crowd management in the event a speedy evacuation becomes necessary at the Esplanade.)
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicle commonly referred to as a “drone,”

Schedules

July 3 Boston Pops Rehearsal Show

• 5 p.m. - Gates open
• 8:30 p.m. - Concert begins
• 10 p.m. - Concert ends

July 4 Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular

• 9 a.m. - Gates open
• 7 p.m. - WBZ-AM 1030 broadcast begins
• 7:30 p.m. - WBZ-TV's Countdown to the Fourth pre-show begins
• 8:00 p.m. - WBZ-TV Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular broadcast begins
• 8:30 p.m. - Concert begins
• 9:00 p.m. - CBS network broadcast begins
• 10:30 p.m. - Fireworks begin
• 11:00 p.m. - Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular ends

The Fireworks!

This year's display will be produced by Grucci. Holders of the Guinness World Record for the "Largest Fireworks Display" ever recorded and "Largest Pyrotechnic Image", Fireworks by Grucci is a sixth-generation, family-owned and operated company. Known as "America's First Family of Fireworks," the Gruccis have produced firework displays since 1850.

Road Closures

Here's what to expect, according to the Massachusetts State Police:

Saturday, July 2

• 7 a.m. No parking on Mugar Way from Arlington Street to Charles Street until 6 a.m. on July 5. All vehicles remaining will be removed.

Sunday, July 3

6 a.m.

• Right hand travel lane on Storrow Drive westbound will be closed.

7 a.m.

• Esplanade walkway adjacent to the Charles River closed to pedestrians and bicyclists from the area of the Community Boat Club to the front of the concession stand. All pedestrians and bicyclists will be directed to the sidewalk adjacent to Storrow Drive until approximately 3 p.m.
• Oval area closed to public for Pops rehearsal (Will re-open atapproximately 5 p.m., or as determined by Boston 4 Productions andthe Incident Commander.)
• The exit to Arlington Street from the Storrow Tunnel (eastbound) shall be closed until 6 a.m., July 5.

9 a.m.

• Esplanade curbside reserved for permitted bus parking from theLongfellow Bridge westbound to the Fielder Footbridge.
• Traffic will continue west bound on Storrow Drive
• There will be no public parking along Storrow Drive for either the rehersals or the concert.

3 p.m. (Or a time to be determined by the Incident Commander):

• Storrow Drive will be closed to westbound traffic from the Lee Pool to the Bowker Overpass. All westbound traffic will be diverted to Charles Street Circle. Westbound traffic may re-enter Storrow Drive westbound by heading down Charles Street, to Beacon Street, to the westbound entrance at the Bowker Overpass.
• Mugar Way at Beacon Street will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. This will remain closed until the early morning hours of July 5.Pedestrians will be directed to Berkeley Street for entrance to the Esplanade.
• Berkeley Street at Beacon Street will be closed to vehicular traffic.
• Storrow Drive Eastbound will be closed and detoured at the Bowker Overpass. It will remain closed until July 5, at a time to be determined by the Incident Commander.

Monday, July 4

The following Storrow Drive on and off ramp closures will remain in effect from July 3:

• Berkeley Street
• Charlesgate Area (heading eastbound)
• Bowker Overpass from Park Drive and the Fenway
• Charles Street Circle.(heading westbound)

12 a.m.

• No parking on Memorial Drive (either side) from 450 Memorial Drive to the Longfellow Bridge. All vehicles remaining after this time will be removed.
• No parking on Cambridge Parkway.

7 a.m.

• Access to Storrow Drive westbound from Leverett Circle to Kenmore Square (Bowker Overpass) will be closed to traffic.
• The righthand travel lane on Charles River Dam Road will be closed from Museum Way to Leverett Circle.
• The Storrow Drive exit ramp in the Tip O’Neill Tunnel will be closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles.
• The Leverett Circle entrance to Storrow Drive West will also be closed. Traffic will be allowed to travel on Msgr. O’Brien Highway to Cambridge and Martha Way to Boston.

• No Parking at Magazine Beach and Pool, Riverside Boat Club and the MWRA pump station (Cottage Farm). No boat launching in this area.
• Pedestrian Footbridge at Charles Street Circle going to the Esplanade closed.
• Fiedler Footbridge from Beacon Street going to the Esplanade closed.

12 p.m.

• A lane on the Massachusetts Avenue bridge going from Boston to Cambridge will be closed. This lane will remain closed for the remainder of time the bridge remains open (entire bridge closes to vehicles and pedestrians at 4 p.m.)

3 p.m.

• No access to Storrow Drive westbound from the Kenmore Square (Bowker Overpass).
• No access to Storrow Drive westbound from the Beacon St. on-ramp under the Bowker Overpass.
• Storrow Drive eastbound will be detoured at University Avenue

4 p.m.

• Memorial Drive in both directions from Massachusetts Avenue to the Longfellow Bridge closed to vehicular traffic.
• Main Street, Cambridge, from Third Street to the Longfellow Bridge closed to vehicular traffic.
• Ames Street from Main Street to Memorial Drive, Cambridge, closed to vehicular traffic.
• Wadsworth and Amherst Streets, Cambridge, closed to vehicular traffic.
• Land Boulevard (Cambridge) from Binney Street to Longfellow Bridge closed to vehicular traffic.
• Hayward, Carlton, Charlotte’s Way and Dock Streets in Cambridge, closed to vehicular traffic.
• Access allowed to One Memorial Drive only with issued permit.
• Longfellow Bridge closed to vehicular traffic. Pedestrians will be allowed on the downstream side (only side open due to construction).
• Due to construction, the Longfellow Bridge will be closed to pedestrian traffic from approximately 9 p.m. until the end of the fireworks. Due to the construction, no fireworks viewing from the Longfellow Bridge will be allowed.
• Mass. Avenue Bridge closed in both directions to vehicular and pedestrian traffic from Beacon Street in Boston to Vassar Street in Cambridge. As in previous years, no fireworks viewing from the Mass. Ave. Bridge will be allowed.
• Memorial Drive from Mass Avenue to the BU Bridge closed to vehicular traffic. Vehicular access will be allowed for patrons going to the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Hyatt patrons will be directed to the Vassar Street road closure.
• Vassar Street in Cambridge from Mass Ave to Memorial Drive closed to vehicular traffic. Access will be allowed for residents and Hyatt patrons.
• Cambridge Parkway closed to vehicular traffic except, it will remain open to vehicles with Handicap Placards/plates only. All vehicles must be removed from Cambridge Parkway by 1 a.m. on July 5.

10:30 p.m.

• Third Street in Cambridge becomes one way from Main Street to Msgr. O’Brien Highway.
• Craigie Drawbridge (at Leverett Circle) to remain closed for approximately 2 hours to allow traffic to subside.
• Smaller boats that can pass under bridge while in the down position will be allowed to pass.

Click here for more information on safety and travel.

Information in this article is from theBoston's Fourth of July website and the Massachusetts State Police.