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Today’s Forecast

37º | Sunny | 6% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:12 a.m. | Sunset 4:28 p.m.
 

🎆 Party in the USA Boston-style

Your guide to Harborfest in Boston
Crowds walking through Downtown Crossings during Harborfest celebrations.
Scenes from Downtown Boston Harborfest 2023. | Photo by Michael J. Clarke courtesy of Downtown Boston BID
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that every Bostonian will find something fun to check out at Harborfest this year.

During the 42nd annual Boston Harborfest, our city will celebrate the Fourth of July with the country’s largest Independence Day celebration. The five-day long event (Friday, June 30-Tuesday, July 4) will feature live music performances, kid-friendly activities, historical re-enactments, and costumed characters.

Here’s what not miss during the patriotic party.

Three people holding an American flag in the Harborfest parade.

The parade will begin at City Hall and head to the Granary Burying Ground.

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Photo by @downtownbostonbid

Friday, June 30
  • The celebrations kick off at 12 p.m. with a ceremonial cake-cutting with public officials and hospitality leaders.
  • Shop local vendors at the Downtown Boston Arts Market from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. along Summer Street Plaza.
Saturday, July 1
  • Head down to the waterfront for a pre-fireworks concert at Christopher Columbus Park at 6 p.m. and grab a spot at Long Wharf for the big booms at 9:15 p.m.
  • Middlesex County Volunteers Fife and Drums will perform from 1 to 4 p.m. at locations like the Old State House, Old City Hall, and Old South Meeting House.
Sunday, July 2
  • Bring the dogs out for a dog-themed marketplace called the Patriotic Poochapalooza. Think: A costume contest and plenty of treats.
Monday, July 3
  • Grab a sample or two of clam chowder from local restaurants at Chowderfest from 2 to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, July 4
  • Watch the Independence Day parade from City Hall Plaza to the Old State House beginning at 9 a.m. Plus, stick around for the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence from the balcony.
  • Listen to a reading of Frederick Douglass’ abolitionist speech at 1:30 p.m. and grab a sweet treat from the ice cream social right after at Downtown Crossing.
  • Finish the long weekend with the annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular at the Hatch Memorial Shell.
Plan your five-day schedule
 
Events

Thursday, June 29
  • Aeronaut Beer Garden at Hood Park | Thursday, June 29 | 4-8 p.m. | Hood Park, 100 Hood Park Dr., Boston | Free | This pop-up dog-friendly beer garden will feature Aeronaut brews, live music, Tradesman ice cream, and yard games.
  • The Night Bazaar | Thursday, June 29 | 5-9:30 p.m. | Charles River Speedway, 525 Western Ave., Brighton | Free to attend | Visit Garage B to shop over 80 vendors offering vinyl, art, and vintage goods.
  • Wine School: Mythbusting: Mouthfeel | Thursday, June 29 | 6-7 p.m. | Wild Child, 1 Bow Market Way, Ste. 32, Somerville | $35 | Learn about the texture of wine at this class, which includes three tastings.
Friday, June 30
  • Black Music Month Celebration Concert | Friday, June 30 | 5-10 p.m. | Dewey Square, 600 Atlantic Ave., Boston | Free | The concert will kick off at 5 p.m. and continue with an artist reception at 8 p.m. to celebrate the “Breathe Life Together” mural.
  • Ed Sheeran | Friday, June 30 + Saturday, July 1 | 6 p.m. | Gillette Stadium, One Patriot Pl., Foxborough | $49-$139 | Head to Gillette to sing along to songs like “Shape of You” and “Photograph” during the "+-=÷x Tour.”
Saturday, July 1
  • Chinatown Main Street Summer Festival | Saturday, July 1 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, 34 W. Lincoln St., Boston | Free | The annual festival will feature lion dances, folk dancing, food vendors, and street shops.
Sunday, July 2
  • Art in the Garden | Sunday, July 2 | 2-5 p.m. | The Hidden Art Gallery, 25 Myrtle St., Boston | $10-$25 | Donations are suggested for this outdoor art session in the Beacon Hill neighborhood.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Eat

Where we’re eating at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport
A view of Lifted's dining room with a view of the city.
Take in skyline views with a delicious drink in hand at Lifted. | Courtesy of Omni Hotels & Resorts
With six spots to dine, there are more restaurants than meals in a day at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport. Here’s where and what we’d eat during our Seaport staycation at this high-end hotel:
  • Breakfast: Baked apple pancake topped with goat cheese and walnut butter at Kestra
  • Lunch: TSC Double-Double Bacon Burger at The Sporting Club
  • Dinner: Oysters and charred octopus at Coquette
  • Drinks: The “Golden Hour” cocktail at Lifted
Explore Omni's full restaurant lineup
News Notes
Development
  • The Franklin Park Zoo has shared an update on the new $16 million immersive experience that will be completed in the summer of 2025. The African Experience will feature a new outdoor glass-fronted African Penguin Coast habitat + the African Savannah will be expanded and reconfigured.
Number
  • 33,488. That’s the number of same-sex couple households in Massachusetts. The Bay State accounted for 2.7 million total households in the 2020 Census, which was the first time people could indicate whether they were “same-sex” or “opposite-sex” partners. (Boston Globe)
Environment
  • The Cambridge City Council approved legislation this week that will require large commercial properties to hit “net zero” carbon emissions by 2035. For comparison, the City of Boston is aiming to decarbonize buildings by 2050. (Boston Business Journal)
Arts
  • Cambridge Crossing has added some color to the the steps thanks to a team of local artists, including teens from the Community Art Center. The mural is titled “Collective Ascension” and celebrates the people, local businesses, and connections within the neighborhood.
Featured
  • And the winner is... North Street Grille. “Good Morning America” visited Boston yesterday to see who served up the best breakfast. Robin Sidell’s eatery beat out South Street Diner with her Banana Bourbon French Toast — the restaurant will go on to the finals in New York later this week.
Plan Ahead
  • Boston will host the NAACP’s national convention from Wednesday, July 26-Tuesday, Aug. 1. The free events and programs will be open to residents and visitors. This year’s theme is Thriving Together and will invite change-makers to celebrate the Black community’s collective power.
Try This
Wellness
Job
  • Passionate about storytelling, news, and Boston? We’re hiring a City Editor to plan, write, edit, and publish the most relevant and engaging daily content about our city. See details + apply.
Asked

🌊 What’s the best local beach?

Asked: What’s the best local beach?
A small wave on Spectacle Island.
There’s over 1,500 miles of coastline to explore in Massachusetts. | Photo by @alyssarider
The Bay State is home to some the best beaches around. Don’t just take our word for it — Forbes ranked Cape Cod’s Coast Guard Beach No. 10 on the list of the best beaches in America for 2023, and Nantucket was featured on a recent list of the country’s best beaches by US News and World Report.

Call us shellfish, but we want to know which local beach you think is the best and why. Before you get salty, we promise to share your best tips + tricks so we can all enjoy the beaches this summer. If you need some inspo, check out this list of 10 beaches to get the brain waves rolling.

Swim over to our quick survey and tell us why your favorite beach is the best.
The Wrap
 
Jess Burton in a blue shirt and gold necklace

Today’s edition by:
Jessica
From the editor
Romaine calm — Southie is getting a new patio + farmers market this fall from Cannonball Cafe. Stop by the coffee shop on Saturdays in August for your caffeine fix and a sweet treat. Then, step outside to shop local vendors with a variety of local produce, arts, and goods. Sounds like a berry good time to me.
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