The 4th of July fireworks and concert in Boston is recognized around the country as one of the biggest and best celebrations of America's independence. Here's what to know about the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular event Friday on the Charles River Esplanade.

Here's what you need to know about Fourth of July fireworks and celebrations in Boston. This year, the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular will be on Friday, July 4. The concert is schedule to begin at 7 p.m. and the fireworks will start at 9:40 p.m.

In Greater Boston, the Fourth of July includes a number of annual traditions: music at the Hatch Shell, the presentation of the Declaration of Independence, and the reading of Frederick Douglass’s speech “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?