Sunday, July 4th
8:30am-9pm – Whale Watch Cruises
Massachusetts Bay Lines (617-542-8000) and
New England Aquarium (617-973-5281)
Whales frolicking in their natural environment
Times, length, routes and prices vary, reservations
required
www.massbaylines.com
www.neaq.org
9am-10am – Flag Raising Ceremony and Parade
At the flag pole on the Plaza at City Hall
Follow the parade to the Granary Burial Ground where
wreaths are laid on the graves of the patriots and then to
the Old State House
9am-10am – Independence Day Service
Old North Church (617-523-6676)
193 Salem Street, North End
Worship in the church where the lanterns of
freedom were hung
www.oldnorth.com
9am-Noon – Footloose on the Freedom Trail
Boston By Foot (617-367-2345)
Meet at the State House Steps, Beacon Street
A guided walking tour of over 3 miles and 300
years of architecture and history
Admission $20, members $5
www.bostonbyfoot.com
9am-5pm – 50th Anniversary of the Kennedy Presidency
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
(617-514-1600)
Columbia Point, Dorchester
Celebrating the Kennedy Presidency, his 1960 victory, and
the thousand days of promise
Admission $9-$12, 12 and under free
www.jfklibrary.org
9:30am-2pm – Brunch and Lunch Cruises
Boston Seaport Boat Charters (617-261-6633, 800-422-8419),
Boston Yacht Charters (617-723-8810), Charles Riverboat Co.,
(617-621-3001), Massachusetts Bay Lines (617-542-8000),
Odyssey Cruises (866-307-2469), Spirit of Boston (866-310-2469)
View the USS CONSTITUTION as she makes her annual voyage
and fires a 21 cannon salute to the Nation
Times, lengths, routes and prices vary, reservations required
www.bostonseaportboatcharters.com
www.bostonyachtcharters.com
www.charlesriverboat.com
www.libertyfleet.com
www.massbaylines.com
www.odysseycruises.com
www.spiritofboston.com
10am-10:30am – Reading of the Declaration of Independence
From the balcony of the Old State House, State and Devonshire Streets
Read from the balcony as it was on July 18, 1776
http://www.ahac.us.com/
10am-1:30pm – Cookout Aboard a Schooner
Aboard the LIBERTY CLIPPER (617-742-0333)
Central Wharf at the New England Aquarium
Enjoy a cookout while saluting the USS CONSTITUTION
Admission $60-$100, reservations required
www.libertyfleet.com
10am-4pm – Celebrate Independence at
Boston’s “Sanctuary of Freedom”
Old South Meeting House (617-482-6439)
310 Washington Street
Follow the clues on a self-guided Scavenger Hunt
Admisson $1-$6, under 6 free
www.osmh.org
10am-4pm – America’s 2nd War of Independence?
USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard,
Charlestown (617-426-1812)
Celebrate how the USS CONSTITUTION defended and preserved
the new republic through three major battles in the Atlantic with HMS
GUERRIERE, HMS JAVA and HMS CYANE and HMS LEVANT
Admission by donation
www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org
11am-Noon – Oration at Faneuil Hall
The Great Hall at Faneuil Hall
A traditional oration in “the Cradle of Liberty”
given by a prominent citizen
11am-Noon – Independence Day Service
Old North Church (617-523-6676)
193 Salem Street, North End
Worship in the church where the famous “two if by sea”
lanterns were hung
www.oldnorth.com
11am-12:15pm – Tory Independence Day Service
King’s Chapel (617-227-2155)
Corner of Tremont and School Streets
Worship in the colonial church frequented by Patriots
and Tories (Loyalists) during the Revolution
www.kings-chapel.org
11am-Noon – Beacon Hill’s Treasures
Otis House Museum (617-994-5920)
141 Cambridge Street
A guided walking tour of Beacon Hill in the
early days of the Republic
Admission $6-$12, reservations required
www.historicnewengland.org
11am-1pm – A Flag for the Fourth
Boston National Historical Park Visitor Center
(617-242-5642) 15 State Street, 2nd floor
Learn about the flags of the Revolution with a
Boston connection. Make a flag of your own
www.nps.gov/bost/
11am-3:30pm – Puritans, Patriots and Pirates
King’s Chapel (617-523-1749)
Corner of Tremont and School Streets
Tour the Burying Ground and learn about Puritan traditions,
Boston’s Patriots, and tales of local Pirates
Donation requested
www.kings-chapel.org
11am-4:30pm – At Home with the Otises
Otis House Museum (617-994-5920)
141 Cambridge Street
Tour the elegant mansion of Harrison Gray Otis, a
Congressman, Senator and the third mayor of Boston,
his wife Sally Foster Otis and their large family
Admission $4-$8, Boston residents and under 5 free
www.historicnewengland.org
11:30am-12:30pm – USS CONSTITUTION Turn-around
Charlestown Navy Yard to the US Coast Guard Base
(617-242-7511)
“Old Ironsides” gets underway to salute the Nation
www.oldironsides.com
Noon –12:05pm – Salute to the Nation
Off the US Coast Guard Base, North End
USS CONSTITUTION fires her 21-gun salute
www.oldironsides.com
Noon-12:30pm – Captain Kidd’s Treasure Hunt
Boston By Foot (617-367-2345)
Meet at Samuel Adams’ Statue, Faneuil Hall,
Congress Street
A self-guided hunt for history with a pirate’s map
Admission per group $10 (up to 10), includes kit
www.bostonbyfoot.com
Noon-1pm – The Art of Change Ringing
Old North Church (617-523-6676)
193 Salem Street, North End
A bell ringer explains the ancient and complex art
of change ringing
www.oldnorth.com
Noon-1pm – Beacon Hill’s Treasures
Otis House Museum (617-994-5920)
141 Cambridge Street
A guided walking tour of Beacon Hill in the
early days of the Republic
Admission $6-$12, reservations required
www.historicnewengland.org
12:30pm-3:30pm – Tory Stories
King’s Chapel (617-523-1749)
Corner of Tremont and School Streets
Join Tory families (Loyalists) as they plan their
hurried escape from Boston to Nova Scotia
Donation requested
www.kings-chapel.org
1pm-2pm – Beacon Hill’s Treasures
Otis House Museum (617-994-5920)
141 Cambridge Street
A guided walking tour of Beacon Hill in the
early days of the Republic
Admission $6-$12, reservations required
www.historicnewengland.org
1:30pm-3:30pm – Bells and Bones
King’s Chapel (617-523-1749)
Corner of Tremont and School Streets
Tour the crypt and learn about Colonial burial practices
and visit the Paul Revere bell in the tower
Admission $7
www.kings-chapel.org
2pm-2:30pm – Early 19th Century Gun Drills
USS CONSTITUTION (617-242-7511)
Pier One, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown
Undefeated in 33 engagements, watch the full sequence of a naval
gun drill using a 24-pound Naval long gun
www.oldironsides.com
2pm-3pm – Beacon Hill’s Treasures
Otis House Museum (617-994-5920)
141 Cambridge Street
A guided walking tour of Beacon Hill in the
early days of the Republic
Admission $6-$12, reservations required
www.historicnewengland.org
2pm-4:30pm – Concert
On the Plaza at City Hall
(617-227-1528)
2pm-7pm – Cape Verdean Independence Celebration
City Hall Plaza, North Stage (617-442-6644)
Music, dancing and traditional games, arts and crafts
Prices vary for delicious Kriolu foods
www.cvcunido.org
3pm-4pm – Beacon Hill’s Treasures
Otis House Museum (617-994-5920)
141 Cambridge Street
A guided walking tour of Beacon Hill in the
early days of the Republic
Admission $6-$12, reservations required
www.historicnewengland.org
3pm-5pm – Re-enact the Boston Tea Party
Aboard the LIBERTY CLIPPER (617-742-0333)
Central Wharf at the New England Aquarium
Raid a British ship with the Sons of Liberty!
Throw tea in the harbor and fire the cannons!
Admission $20-$35, reservations recommended
www.libertyfleet.com
4pm-4:30pm – Early 19th Century Gun Drills
USS CONSTITUTION (617-242-7511)
Pier One, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown
Undefeated in 33 engagements, watch the full sequence of a naval
gun drill using a 24-pound Naval long gun
www.oldironsides.com
5pm-5:30pm – Choral Evensong
Old North Church (617-523-6676)
193 Salem Street, North End
Musical meditation in an historic setting
www.oldnorth.com
5:30pm-7pm – Charlestown: Where Boston Began
Boston By Foot (617-367-2345)
Meet at main entrance (Gate 1), Charlestown Navy Yard
A guided walking tour of the early Puritan Settlement, the
Battle of Bunker Hill and the Monument
Admission $12, members $5
www.bostonbyfoot.com
6pm-8pm – Tall Ship Sunset Sail
Aboard the LIBERTY CLIPPER (617-742-0333)
Central Wharf at the New England Aquarium
Sail aboard a majestic schooner in the Harbor
Admission $15-$30, reservations recommended
www.libertyfleet.com
6pm-11:30pm – Fireworks Cruises
Boston Seaport Boat Charters (617-261-6633, 800-422-8419),
Boston Yacht Charters (617-723-8810), Massachusetts
Bay Lines (617-542-8000) Odyssey Cruises (866-307-2469)
and Spirit of Boston (866-310-2469)
Times, lengths, routes and prices vary, reservations required
www.bostonseaportboatcharters.com
www.bostonyachtcharters.com
www.massbaylines.com
www.odysseycruises.com
www.spiritofboston.com
6:30pm-8:30pm – Moonlight Splash In
Boston Duck Tours (617-450-0068)
Dock at the New England Aquarium, Central Wharf
Enjoy an hour long moonlight tour of Boston by land and water
Admission $18-$26.95
www.bostonducktours.com
8pm-11pm - Fourth of July Concert on the Esplanade
Sponsored by Liberty Mutual
Boston’s Fourth of July (888-d484-7877)
Keith Lockhart conducts the Boston Pops Orchestra
Fireworks Spectacular to follow
www.july4th.org
9pm-11:30pm – Tall Ship Fireworks Sail
Aboard the LIBERTY CLIPPER (617-742-0333)
Central Wharf at the New England Aquarium
Sails, stars, fireworks, a cannon, a grill and the Pops!
Admission $60-$100, reservations required
www.libertyfleet.com