Independence Day celebrations ensue with annual Boston fireworks show
Kate Lu–The Tech
Michelle Xiang-The Tech
On the evening of July 4, thousands of spectators gathered around the Charles River esplanade to watch the annual Boston Independence Day fireworks show.
In a celebration of the country’s founding, US flags were held or hung all across the city all that day, and a sentiment of patriotism followed as families hoping to catch a suitable view of the fireworks show flocked to the part of Charles River by Harvard bridge, where a barge carrying the fireworks was sat.
Throughout the afternoon, various contingents of city and state police officers as well as uniformed military personnel were stationed in the Harvard Bridge area to set up for the closely-monitored event. Harvard Bridge and the surrounding streets were closed for vehicular traffic ahead of the event. By mid-evening, the esplanade was packed with attendees, some of whom were dressed in red-white-and-blue regalia. One prime spot for locals was Killian Court, where dozens of families gathered on picnic blankets.
The show began some minutes after 10:30 p.m., with fireworks being launched from a barge on the Charles River. The show lasted for about half an hour and featured a dizzying array of lights and explosions, including images of what appeared to be a set of paratroopers, a set of smiley faces, and explosions colored red, white, and blue.
Being situated right by the fireworks show, many members of the MIT community remaining on-campus for the summer enjoyed the evening’s festivities and welcomed the opportunity to celebrate the country and its meaning.
“To me, the 4th of July is a time to reflect on what it means to be American,” Howard Beck ’25 said. “Part of this is being thankful for the privileges we have. For example, living here affords us vast resources, safety, and many opportunities—even such as going to MIT.”
This year was Beck’s third time watching the Boston fireworks show, having seen it in the summers after freshman and sophomore year as well. Beck described the raucous and thrilling scene along Memorial Drive, where he watched the show, and the joy brought by the coming-together of various Institute and city-wide communities. “There’d be groups dancing and singing until the fireworks started,” Beck said, also mentioning MIT Spinning Arts which brought LED pois and staves to perform with.
Correspondence from Associate Dean of Fraternities, Sororities, & Independent Living Groups Liz Jason sent to all off-campus living groups ahead of July 4 described limitations on the hosting of social events for Independence Day celebrations. Jason noted in the email that “no events were submitted for approval for the 4th of July”—as all social events over the summer are considered Special Events under Institute policy and thus require advance approval from the Associate Dean—”which means there cannot be any social events this week.”
The email also noted that all FSILGs found hosting an unregistered social event would be referred to the Committee on Discipline (COD) and that in general, FSILGs with approved roof decks are “not permitted to host social events on them.”
Some off-campus living groups nonetheless hosted gatherings in their living spaces and on their rooftops—as did several city tenants with roof decks—or otherwise celebrated the festivities with grilling events.
Some rooftops across the city, despite a statewide ban on the use of fireworks by private citizens, were also observed setting off their own fireworks during the event.
Other MIT affiliates took to the upper floors of various Institute buildings to watch the spectacle, with some campus groups and departments hosting watch parties for their members.
This was Maia DeMeyer ’26’s first time watching the Boston fireworks show; DeMeyer described a level of gratitude for the largely responsible firework use across the city. “It’s crazy in my hometown—at least a dozen injuries and the streets are filled with smoke,” DeMeyer said. “I’m very grateful that Massachusetts law enforces responsible firework use so that we can enjoy their beauty safely and with minimal disruption.”
As the fireworks show ended at 11:00 p.m., an eruption of cheers rang across the city.
“To me, [this is] a time to reflect on current struggles Americans face, and also to remember the darkest parts of our imperfect history. This is a day to think of not only the good of America, but also to acknowledge that we must always fight for a better country and society, and to learn from and never repeat our worst mistakes,” Beck said.