July 4th Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular Information: Road Closures; Prohibited Items & More

CAMBRIDGE -- Listed below are the pedestrian, parking, and traffic restrictions that will be in place in Cambridge for the 2024 Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. 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.

If you are planning on watching the fireworks from the Cambridge side of the Charles River, please note there will be no sound towers and limited food concessions near Memorial Drive & Ames Street this year.

ROAD CLOSURES
These closures will be updated as needed.

Thursday, July 4
Starting 4 p.m.:

• Longfellow Bridge closed.
• Memorial Drive closed both directions from Longfellow Bridge to Massachusetts Avenue.
• Memorial Drive closed from Mass Ave Bridge to B.U. Bridge.
• 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.

Starting 9 p.m.:

• 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 fireworks.
• No firearms, weapons, sharp objects.
• No glass containers.
• No cans.
• No pre-mixed beverages.
• All liquids will be carried in sealed clear plastic containers not to exceed 2 liters in size.
• No grills, propane tanks, or open flames.
• No 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.)
• No privately owned drones or unmanned aerial vehicles.

The MSP says pop up tents, blankets, and tarps are allowed under a certain size. For chairs, officials say folding or beach chairs are the only types allowed. All coolers should be carried by a strap or single handle.

To find the most up-to-date information, please visit https://www.bso.org/boston-pops-fireworks-spectacular/know-before-you-go. 

Alert sent on 07/03/2024 at 11:19AM EDT

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