July 4th, 2009: Things to Do in Boston, MA

Memorial Day has come and gone, and it is on to planning the next major holiday. July 4^th weekend is one of the most exciting times to be in the Boston area. There is no shortage on things to do throughout the city, no matter what your interests are. Check out a few of the exciting events and attractions going on in the area that are definitely worth attending.

In the downtown area, at City Hall Plaza, Harborfest is a favorite series of local events. Independence Day festivities this year will run June 30^th through July 5^th. There is a complete schedule of events, with over 200 things happening, at Bostonharborfest.com. Highlights from the festival include live music and concerts to kick off the weekend. The Party on the Plaza concert will occur July 3^rd, from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm. The Motown group called Souled Out will perform, along with two opening acts. Then wake up early on July 4th for the 9:00 am flag raising, which will be followed by a parade and additional events!

On Saturday, July 4^th, come down to the Charles River area for the main attraction of the weekend. The Boston Pops will perform their usual outdoor concert and the infamous fireworks display will occur. The concert is about 2 ½ hours long, with 2 hours of live music and a half hour fireworks display. On both the Boston and Cambridge sides of the river, people will be lining up to see and hear the show, so definitely get there as soon as you can to claim your spot. The Oval area, which is where the Hatch Shell stage is located, opens up at 9:00 am. The actual concert begins at 8:30 pm and the fireworks display is at 10:30 pm.

If you want a guaranteed place for seeing the show, the Community Boating Boathouse on the Esplanade is having a cook out. This way you can have waterfront views of the fireworks, good food, and meet some new people. Doors open at 4:00 pm and the BBQ, which is catered by B. Good is at 6:00 pm. You can watch the show from one of their sailboats or from their dock, if you are not interested in sitting with the crowd by the Hatch Shell. Adult's tickets are $65 and children's tickets are $25.

Love creamy New England chowder? Then don't miss Chowderfest on Sunday July 5^th, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, where all the local seafood restaurants will be offering up their signature soups. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for children under 12.

If you are looking for a tour, there are tons of options for trolley rides, walking tours, or biking tours. Among them, The Footloose on the Freedom Trail tour, provided by the Boston by Foot Company, is a great way to see the city. It is a 3 hour walking tour that covers the entire Freedom Trail for just $15!

Another way to celebrate the July 4^th weekend in Boston, is with an Odyssey or Spirit of Boston cruise. Entertainment, beautiful views of the skyline, and special menus will be provided. Prices vary depending on whether you do a brunch, lunch, or dinner cruise. What is better then cruising along Boston with excellent cuisine and music.

For additional information on the events listed above, visit the following websites.

Harborfest:

http://www.bostonharborfest.com/

http://www.cityofboston.gov/calendar/arts.asp

July 4^th Concert:

http://www.july4th.org/concert.htm

http://www.community-boating.org/4th.php

Cruises:

http://www.odysseycruises.com/boston/special_offers/july4.cfm

http://www.spiritofboston.com/bo/july4_cruise.jsp

Tours:

http://www.bostonbyfoot.org/tours/holiday/