Commons Get Up & Go! Fireworks Delights

Go 4th and enjoy – rain or shine!

Pop! Bang! Each year on Independence Day, firework makers sell 25 million pounds of pyrotechnics to cities and towns across the land. You don’t need a calculator  to break down these radiant displays—that adds up to a whole lot of and “oohs” and  ”aahs.” Massachusetts offers hundreds of fireworks’ displays to celebrate the Fourth of July. Even with this weekend’s uncertain weather forecast, here is list of local fireworks destinations. Hope you get to sit back and enjoy the show!

Boston - Where the Fourth … Third, Really Pops!

The Boston’s Pops Fireworks Spectacular is the best known fireworks display in Massachusetts. Due to the threat posed by Hurricane Arthur, this year’s big event will take place TONIGHT at the DCR Memorial Hatch Shell. This year's free Pops concert features special guests, The Beach Boys and the lead performers from Phantom of the Opera. The music begins at 8:30 p.m. and the fireworks take flight over the Charles at 10:30 p.m. If you don’t wants to squeeze into the crowd at the Hatch Shell, there are plenty of places on the Cambridge side of the river to set down a blanket for ideal viewing and listening. For the more adventurous soul, head over to Paddle Boston in Kendall Square to enjoy the show on the water from a canoe or kayak and watch from the river, or bring your kayak.

Celebrate Salem-style on Sunday – and Saturday too!

Due to the weather, Salem will celebrate its traditional Independence Day on three days. The fireworks launch over Salem Harbor will take place on SUNDAY, JULY 6^TH at 9:30 p.m. Earlier in the day, visitors can enjoy a free Pops concert performed by the 42-piece Hillyer Festival Orchestra and a Kid Space play area at Derby Wharf.

The weather will not interfere with the morning reading of the Declaration of Independence, which will take place at 9 a.m. tomorrow inside the Hawthorne Hotel.  On Saturday, the U.S. Air Force Heritage Band, the Blue Aces, will perform at Salem Willows starting at noon.

Gloucester cancels fireworks tonight  – but Annual Fishtown Horribles Parade/free concert are on!

We’re sorry to say that Gloucester’s volunteer fireworks organizers cancelled the big show tonight but the annual “Fishtown Horribles Parade” tradition and free concert is a lively consolation prize. There is nothing quite like the cornucopia of sights, sounds and festivities of this parade, which carries on a tradition that harkens back to the 19th Century (and some, say, perhaps back to the 17th Century). The event features musicians and bands, brightly and artfully decorated floats, flying candy and hideous masks.

Stick around for the free concert on Stacy Boulevard beginning at 7:30 p.m.!

Close to home, Winthrop celebrates on Saturday

Just minutes from Parkside, Winthrop offers a great alternative to the crowds in Boston. The fun starts at 9:00 p.m. on SATURDAY, JULY 5^TH. Remember to come early as parking in the community is limited. Happy Independence Day!