There are two things that matter most in Boston: summer and celebrating freedom. Naturally, Independence Day, and specifically the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular held on the Charles River Esplanade, are a tentpole of any Bostonian’s summer plans.
Each July 4th, the city swells with activity: residents take to their roof decks, suburbanites ride the commuter rail into town to gather on the banks of the Charles, and travelers come from around the world to catch a glimpse of this waterfront celebration of music and pyrotechnics that has enchanted our fair city for (just about) five decades. Here are the best places to watch the Boston 4th of July fireworks in 2023—whether you’re a seasoned local or a first-time visitor—and the events where you're bound to find the crowds, the drinks, and the air of patriotism simply intoxicating.
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The Charles River Esplanade
Everybody needs to do it at least once. Watching the fireworks from the Esplanade—roughly between the Museum of Science down to the Boston University Bridge—is a quintessential Boston experience, although not suggested for the agoraphobic. If you want to go straight into the belly of the beast, gates open at the Hatch Shell’s lawn at 9 a.m., and spots fill up notoriously quickly. The fireworks kick off at 10:30 p.m.
If reserved seating is more your vibe, then get a ticket to Community Boating’s annual SAILabration fundraiser, the only event that offers reserved seating on the Esplanade on July 4. It will cost you $100 per adult and $75 per child, but that price includes plenty of space to stretch your legs, as well as unlimited water, seltzer, and Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream to beat the heat, so the cost of admission pays for itself.
Every Independence Day, the Charles River chokes with anchored boats awaiting the evening’s fireworks. If you can’t simply score an invite on a friend’s boat, a rented kayak will do just fine—and beloved outfitter Paddle Boston’s launch location in Cambridge’s Kendall Square, just across the river from the Hatch Shell, is an easy five-minute row to the heart of the action. This year, Paddle Boston will also offer guided tours in their 10-person canoes—a great option for solo visitors looking to make new friends, or groups of friends looking to explore Boston from the water on the city’s most exciting night of the year.
If being paddled around is more your speed than doing the paddling yourself, the Charles Riverboat Company is doing a rain-or-shine sunset sailing aboard the Valiant, from 6:15 p.m. to 11 p.m. Kick back and relax while enjoying an open bar, a dessert buffet, and an unbeatable view of the fireworks over the city’s skyline. Tickets are $225 and can be purchased via phone.
Night Shift Beer Garden Esplanade is a prime spot from which to view the fireworks and throw back a few craft brews. If you’re spending the day out with your pets, this could be a good spot for your four-legged friends: this is one of the few outdoor bars in the city that allows dogs. Night Shift will offer extended hours from noon until 10 p.m. on July 4th, and are not requiring tickets for admission. The sprawling space accommodates 400 people at a time, so even if there is a line to get in, chances are that it will move quickly.
From the sky
How about something a little more… elevated? The View Boston, an observation deck that occupies the top three floors of the Prudential Tower, is offering a special adults-only July 4th viewing party. The $75 tickets grant access to both indoor and outdoor viewing options—making this a great option in case of inclement weather—and includes two drink tickets. Regular everyday admission starts at $29.99 per adult, so the inclusion of two drinks on Boston’s biggest night (not to mention golden hour admission to the city’s most coveted Instagram spot of the moment, without any errant toddlers ruining your shot) makes this a pretty good deal.
From Cambridge, Charlestown, and remotely
The classic spot from which to watch the fireworks in Cambridge is the grassy quadrangle at M.I.T., where a giant screen live-streams the Boston Pops concert. The view from this side of the river—with the city skyline in the background and more sweeping vantage points over the Charles River—might just beat being on the Esplanade itself.
For something with more local flavor, head across the Charles over to Charlestown, the oldest neighborhood in Boston—also known as “The Town”——where The Anchor, a sprawling waterfront beer garden, offers plenty of space to move around and a clear line of sight to the fireworks barge. And if you’d rather catch the fireworks from the comfort of your own home, tune in on Bloomberg TV, or WHDH Channel 7.
Don’t forget about a nightcap
Boston is a hub for innovative drinks these days. After the fireworks wrap, keep the party going with festive cocktails at some of the city’s favorite hotspots, many of which are walking distance from the Esplanade. Each of Chef Jason Santos’ three restaurants—Citrus & Salt, Nash Bar & Stage, and Buttermilk & Bourbon—will offer a “Color Me America” cocktail, featuring 792 Bourbon, apple pie spiced cider, black walnut bitters, and a sparkler right in your glass.
At The Liberty, a Luxury Collection Hotel, which stands conveniently across the street from the Esplanade, head over to the bumping Alibi Bar & Lounge for a special “Liber-Tea,” made of Maker’s Mark, muddled strawberries, green tea, lemon, and a hint of simple syrup.
Todd Plummer is a Boston-based contributor who covers travel destinations, food and wine, entertainment, and design. His work has appeared in Vogue, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, W, Town & Country, and more.
