Impacts will primarily occur in Boston with Cambridge being directly affected on July 4 – particularly after 4 p.m. All roadways will remain closed (unless noted otherwise) until the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) can clean the roadways and remove event and production assets. The Massachusetts Avenue Bridge between Boston and Cambridge is currently closed as State Police, @BostonFire and @CambridgeFD respond to reports of a person jumping into the Charles River who did not resurface. Please seek alternative travel routes. — Massachusetts State Police (@MassStatePolice) May 28, 2025 This once a year event is a nice place for Boston residents and visitors to relive and rehear the famous speech read from the balcony—just as it was on July 18, 1776. 3. Fourth of July Parade - Chatham, Massachusetts. It’s one of the best parades on Cape Cod and it’s super easy to see why, as it attracts thousands of visitors each July. The City of Cambridge is notifying residents, businesses, and visitors of multiple temporary street closures throughout Fourth of July weekend due to several large community events. These include the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, the Fourth of July Weekend Block Party and Vintage Market, and the US Army’s 250th Birthday celebration. Music and fireworks will once again ring out across the Charles River in Boston this Fourth of July, 2025! The concert kicks off at 8 p.m., and the 30-minute fireworks show starts at 10:30 p.m. This year’s Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular is shaping up to be one for the books! The Mass Ave bridge. Now that there are sound towers on the bridge (at approximately 100 Smoots and 250 Smoots), the bridge, with nothing to block its view, and relatively smaller crowds, becomes a prime fireworks watching location. • Land Boulevard closed from Binney Street to Memorial Drive. • Vassar Street closed from Massachusetts Avenue to B.U. Bridge. • Mass Ave Bridge closed in both directions. • East Cambridge neighborhood traffic restrictions are in effect. Resident traffic only. Starting 8 p.m.: • Boston Pops Concert begins. It will remain closed until July 5.Thursday, July 412:00 a.m.No parking on Memorial Drive (either side) from #450 Massachusetts Avenue to the Longfellow Bridge. State and local law enforcement announced Tuesday the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge will be completely closed to the public at 4 p.m. on the Fourth and there will be no viewing of the fireworks from Massachusetts Avenue (Harvard) Bridge closed in both directions to vehicular traffic from Beacon Street in Boston to Vassar Street in Cambridge. Bikes and pedestrians will be allowed to cross the bridge. On Thursday, July 4th, streets around Riverfront Park will close as needed as the time gets closer to the fireworks. The Massachusetts State Police will block exit ramps into Springfield’s Downtown around 7pm. These include I-91 Northbound Exit 5 (Union Street), and I-91 Southbound Exits 5A (Union Street) and 5B (Memorial Bridge). 11. The Massachusetts Ave (Harvard) Bridge will be closed to bikes and pedestrian traffic from approximately 9:00 p.m. until the end of the fireworks. NO fireworks viewing from the Massachusetts Ave (Harvard) Bridge will be allowed. 12. Memorial Drive from Massachusetts Avenue to the BU Bridge closed to vehicular traffic. Longfellow Bridge and Harvard Bridge are closed to pedestrian traffic, no firework viewing from the Longfellow Bridge. Starting at 10:30 p.m.: Concert ends – fireworks begin (20-minute firework show). Starting at 5 a.m.: Longfellow Bridge and Mass Ave Bridge re-open. PROHIBITED ITEMS AT THE ESPLANADE No coolers on wheels. No backpacks. No 1. Harvard Bridge (AKA Mass Ave. Bridge) We asked our members to weigh in on the issue, and the Mass Ave. Bridge was unanimously the most popular choice. The City of Boston closes off traffic to the bridge during the fireworks, and it overlooks the barges where the fireworks are set off. You can see a full list of 2024 July 4 fireworks shows in Massachusetts here, with information regarding time, location, and rain date for 100+ towns and cities across Massachusetts. Kevin Slane 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. Here’s everything you need to know if you plan to be in the Boston area on the night of the Fourth of July. Along the Esplanade, Storrow and Memorial Drive are closed. The Fanny Appleton Road closures, generally beginning at 4 p.m. on July 4th: Memorial Drive - BU Bridge to the Longfellow Bridge (other than access to the Hyatt) Harvard (Mass Ave The city’s Fourth of July Waterfront Celebration is on Friday, July 4. Starting at 5 p.m., there will be music and food trucks, and fireworks over the Taunton River will start at 9 p.m. Visitors The BU Bridge. If you’re on campus for the summer, head over to the BU Bridge to catch the fireworks! While the Longfellow and Mass. Ave. bridges close to pedestrians at 9 PM, the BU Bridge remains open. You’ll get a solid view of the show with fewer crowds than the Esplanade. Just be sure to arrive a bit early to grab a good spot.
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