Boston July 4 Pops and Fireworks Still Up in the Air

Spring arrived over the weekend, and I am getting a bit antsy waiting for the arrival of summer. Not only am I looking forward to the warmer weather, but also the return of a number of traditional events that were scrapped for a couple of years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We know that the New Bedford Folk Festival is back this year and so is the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament. The New Bedford Half Marathon was held over the weekend. The Newport Jazz Festival and Newport Folk Festival also return this summer and the Food Truck Festival of New Bedford has already been scheduled.

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I've not received information about the New Bedford Cape Verdean Recognition Parade or the Whaling City Festival as yet, but we will post it as quickly as we get it.

There has been no word from Boston yet as to whether the Fourth of July fireworks display and the Boston Pops concert will return to the Hatch Memorial Shell on the Esplanade along the Charles River. Last year, the Pops performed at Tanglewood and the fireworks were launched over Boston Harbor. It just wasn't the same.

If you have never been to a Pops Fourth of July concert on the Esplanade, you must add it to the bucket list. I did it once in 2000. I don't think I would do it again because crowds and traffic are outrageous, but I can say I did it.

Everyone should take a walk along the Charles River at some point just to see the giant bust of Arthur Fielder, perhaps the most famous of all of the Boston Pops conductors.

We're watching for announcements about summer events and will pass along information as we get it.