The Fourth of July weekend is coming right up, and if your clients still haven’t made plans to celebrate the holiday, we’ve rounded up a list of noteable fireworks displays and travel ideas they may want to consider.
Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, Boston, Massachusetts
One of the country’s most well-known celebrations on July 4 is the annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. Every year visitors from all over the United States gather at the Hatch Shell on Boston’s Charles River Esplanade to listen to a selection of patriotic music performed by the Boston Pops Orchestra under the direction of Keith Lockhart. This year, the line-up will also include performances by Broadway performer Michael Cavanaugh; American Idol finalist Melinda Doolittle; Boston-based quartet, the Sons of Serendip; the Boston Crusaders drum and bugle corps; gospel singer and The Voice contestant Michelle Brooks-Thompson, and the USO Show Troupe. The event end with a bang, literally, as a fireworks display ends the night accompanied by composer John Phillip Sousa’s famous march, “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”
The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular is a free event, and performances begin at 8 pm. For more information visit www.bso.org
Patriots Point 4th of July Blast, Charleston, South Carolina
This southern city has multiple fireworks displays scheduled throughout the holiday weekend, including Patriots Point 4th of July Blast launching from the flight deck of the USS Yorktown. Visitors will watch the fireworks display from shore, and the event will include live music with food and beverages available for purchase. There will also be a jump castle and other activities for kids. The festival will begin at 4 pm, and admission is free with a required $10 parking fee per vehicle.
For more information visit www.patriotspoint.org
The First Independence Day Parade in the Nation, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Clients looking for a unique way to celebrate the holiday weekend while avoiding the crowds in major cities should check out the 40th annual First Independence Day Parade in the Nation, a special festival that kicks off at midnight on July 4 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The 129th Army Band from the Army National Guard Unit in Nashville will lead the parade through the city, which will include floats, giant balloons, entertainment, exotic cars, antique tractors and military vehicles. Patriotic performances and concerts will be held throughout the day, including the annual River Raft Regatta, an unmanned floatables race beginning on the Smokies Bridge on River Road and ending at the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Bridge. Registration for the event begins at 10 am. The festivities will conclude at 10 pm when visitors will enjoy a fireworks display in the center of Gatlinburg.
For more information and a full schedule of the activities and events, visit www.gatlinburg.com/events
Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
If a quiet family weekend is more tailored to your clients’ preferences, they can book a stay at the Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, located in Chatham on Cape Cod. The resort’s reservations agents create custom Fourth of July vacation packages based on guests’ individual needs, so clients must call them directly to design a trip. The hotel kicks off the holiday with a “traditional New England style” barbeque featuring grilled fish, chicken, and a shrimp and lobster bar. Kids will also have a special buffet of their own. The Allnighters party band will entertain adult guests with music and dancing, and kids will enjoy clowns and face-painting throughout the day. In the evening, visitors will gather on the resort’s Great Lawn for a waterfront view of the fireworks display over Pleasant Bay.
To make a reservation directly, call (800) 225-7125 or email [email protected]
Seafair Summer Fourth, Seattle, Washington
The Seafair Summer Fourth will take place in Seattle’s Gas Works Park and Lake Union Park from 12 pm to 11 pm on July 4. The event, which will be presented by Amazon, Doubledown Interactive, Microsoft and the Washington National Guard, will have activities and attractions for both adults and kids throughout the day, including:
- All-American games presented by Smith Brothers Farms
- Festival-style food trucks & concessions
- Large beverage garden
- Exhibit booths
- A “Kids Zone”
- Washington National Guard Display
- SkyDive Kapowsin Landing Zone
- DoubleDown Interactive Live Music & Entertainment Stage - MC'd by Warm 106.9 FM personalities
- Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria Live Music & Entertainment Stage
In the evening, guests will enjoy a fireworks show fully choreographed to the Seafair Summer Fourth musical score. Events at both park locations are free to the public, however, reserved seating is available for purchase starting at $25.
For more information or to reserve seating, visit www.seafair.com/events/2015/seafair-summer-fourth