Fun things to do Fourth of July weekend in and around Boston
United States Navy Band Northeast played as part of Boston Harborfest last July.
David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
I'll start with the largest animal in the room: Boston's epic, jam-packed days-long, decades-old Independence Day Weekend tradition. The 43rd Boston Harborfest runs July 2-4, and a full list of what's happening could fill a phonebook. (Google it, kids. It had a
lot
of pages.) Full schedule at
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Historical tours: They're not just for tourists. If you've never taken one, this year — with the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War, and Boston history a main subject of
Relax in a beer garden on Summer Street Plaza from 2-7:30 p.m. July 3. Live music throughout the day.
Boston's Fourth of July Procession steps off July 4 at 9 a.m. from Boston City Hall, stops to lay wreaths at Granary Burial Ground, and concludes with a reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Old State House.
BOSTON POPS FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR
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LeAnn Rimes headlines the 2025 Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular.
Courtesy
It's a whole thing, as the kids say. The
Details:
.
Andrea Dacosta danced with her son Jeremias, 4, during the 2024 Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular at the Hatch Memorial Shell on July 4, 2024.
Erin Clark/Globe Staff
MORE OOHS AND AAHS
Outside Boston, find dozens of fireworks displays from A-Z. Well, A-W — Andover to Worcester. The state has compiled a list of displays through Sept. 20. Some 60 towns and cities are blasting off from July 3-5. Find more in North Andover July 6, Groton on July 7, and
many
more July 11 and 12. Full list at
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SOUTHIE SLINGS AND SWINGS
The new outdoor venue Park City is open in Southie.
Sinna Studios
This is not a drill, people: an
Go for the cornhole, 'Southie Slings,' (rum, coconut water, pineapple, lime), and cocktails that look like adult Capri Suns. Stay for the hand-cut tallow fries, live music, Maine lobster rolls, fish tacos, and Dot Ave hot dogs. Canines can order off the 'Bark City' menu. I'll be the one balancing my 'Adult Lunchable' — local charcuterie, artisan cheese, grissini breadsticks, seasonal fruit, jam, honey —
411 Dorchester Ave.
50 FOURTHS OF FRIGHT
The Larsen family has fun interacting with Bruce, a replica of the shark featured in the film "Jaws" during the Jaws 50th anniversary festival held at the Martha's Vineyard Museum on June 22. This replica was originally created for the 2005 Jaws Fest.
Heather Diehl for The Boston Globe
'
… Ahem. Sorry, just me hiding under the bed here. Yup, as you
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If you dare, hop a ferry to Martha's Vineyard — the real Amity Island — to see Martha's Vineyard Museum's '
A
dult $21; ages 7-17 $7, 6 and under free.
151 Lagoon Pond Road, Vineyard Haven.
DRIVE-IN SEASON
The Mendon Twin Drive-in will screen two new thrillers July 3 and 4.
Mendon Twin Drive-in Facebook
You have all winter to watch movies on your laptop. Summer means Milk Duds at the drive-in. Grab your crew — up to six per carload — for old-school vibes and blockbuster fun at
$37 per car, rain or shine. Box office opens 7 p.m. 35 Milford St., Mendon.
If you're planning to drive to the Cape — and my thoughts and prayers go out to you for the traffic — catch 'Jaws' and '
$15. Kids 4-11 $10. 3-and-under free. 51 State Highway, Wellfleet.
WE'RE SCREAMING...
Ice cream treats at the Crescent Ridge Dairy Bar in Sharon.
Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
No, not because of the sharks, dinosaurs, and Cape traffic. We scream for ice cream, baby. July is National Ice Cream Month — as if we needed an extra reason to order a cone of peanut butter fudge — and the Fourth of July calls for true indulgence. Some ideas:
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At
407 Bay Road.
At Cambridge's
1702 Massachusetts Ave.,
899 Main St. and 159 First St., Cambridge.
You've seen 'em all over
119 Seaport Blvd., Boston.
GO FOURTH AND EXPLORE
Ptolemy, one of the pygmy hippos at Boston's Franklin Park Zoo.
David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
Soak up art with a summer breeze at the ICA. It's free admission from 5-9 p.m. on July 3, closed for the Fourth proper, free on Saturday for Bank of America cardholders.
Pro Tip: The first two Sundays of each month — July 6 and 13 this month — are
KEEP CALM AND FOLK ON
Matt and Shannon Heaton are among the performers at Passim's Summer Boston Celtic Music Festival on July 6.
handout
Cap the long weekend with live music. Passim hosts their
$28. 47 Palmer St., Cambridge.
Lauren Daley can be reached at
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