Here's a run-down of what's open in Boston on Sunday, July 4th and Monday, July 5th and changes to MBTA schedules for the Fourth of July Holiday weekend 2010.
This is an old post. Here's a link is the 2015 resource page for July 4th:
We publish these reminders about ten days before a holiday to help our readers make their holiday plans, and we update the information as more official word is published. Follow us on Twitter to be notified of updates. Or, scroll down to the bottom of this post and subscribe to the comment feed to receive email or rss feed notice of updates.
Remember, since July 4th falls on Sunday this year, some closings and late openings apply and Monday July 5th is the official day this holiday will be celebrated. According to the Secretary of State's website, "All holidays falling on Sunday must be observed on Monday, under state law. Saturday holidays are observed on Saturday."
Photo by Mick Timony taken in 2007 from the 200 Smoot mark on the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge.
What's Open and Closed over the Independence Day Holiday Weekend
Restaurants, bars: Open July 4th and 5th
Convenience stores: Open July 4th and 5th
Supermarkets: Open July 4th and 5th
Retail stores: Are allowed to open July 4th and 5th, if the owners choose.
Liquor stores: Open, but only after noon, since July 4th falls on a Sunday. Open July 5th.
City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed on Sunday as they always would be and are closed on July 5th to celebrate the holiday. This includes: Schools, Libraries and the Postal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergency services are available.
Financial Services: As the British would say, July 5th is a "Bank Holiday" with both banks and the stock markets in the United State closed. Some international markets are open. Also some banks may open certain branch offices- often those inside supermarkets. Check with your own financial institution for details.
Boston Parking: On July 5th, you don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply. There will be some temporary parking restrictions and some street closures in the areas surrounding the Charles River Esplanade on July 4th.
Boston Trash pickup Monday, July 5, 2010 - "Delay trash and recycling pickup one day only if you live in Allston, Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain*, Mattapan, Roslindale, or West Roxbury. *If you live in Jamaica Plain and your trash is picked up two times per week, do not delay." From: www.cityofboston.gov
City of Boston Traffic Advisory
Here is the road restriction information from the city of Boston.
To accommodate the festivities, the following temporary parking restrictions will be implemented.
"Tow Zone, No Stopping, Friday through Saturday" signs will be posted on the following streets.
Beacon Street, both sides, from Arlington Street to Clarendon Street.
- Back Street, opposite Dartmouth Street at area where jersey barriers separate Back Street from Storrow Drive
- Dartmouth Street, both sides, from Beacon Street to Back Street
"Tow Zone, No Stopping, Saturday" signs will be posted at the following locations.
- Arlington Street, both sides, from Beacon Street to Boylston Street
- Beacon Street, both sides, from Charles Street to Arlington Street
- Berkeley Street, both sides, from Beacon Street to Back Street, and east side, from St. James Street to Boylston Street
- Boylston Street, both side, from Berkeley Street to Arlington Street
- Chestnut Street, both sides, from David G. Mugar Way to Brimmer Street
- Clarendon Street, both sides, from Beacon to Back Street
- Mount Vernon Street, both sides, from David G. Mugar Way to Brimmer
In addition, the annual 4th of July parade will take place on Saturday beginning at 9AM on City Hall Plaza. An estimated 500 participants will march from City Hall Plaza, left onto Cambridge Street, continue onto Tremont Street, left onto Bromfield Street, left onto Washington Street, right onto Court Street, pausing at the Old State House, left onto Congress Street to Faneuil Hall. To accommodate the parade, temporary "Tow Zone, No Stopping, Saturday" restrictions will be in place on Cambridge Street, east side (City Hall side), from Court Street to New Sudbury Street.
DCR Road Closures July 3rd and 4th
"DCR and MassDOT will close portions of Storrow Drive in Boston, Memorial Drive in Cambridge, and the Longfellow Bridge and Massachusetts Avenue Bridge to accommodate the thousands of spectators expected for the July 3 and 4 celebrations and fireworks. Clean-up will begin 30 minutes after the last fireworks on July 4. All roadways will remain closed until the clean-up is complete, expected to be Monday morning, July 5." Click here for full details.
Fireworks, the Esplanade and the Pops!
We've added a second post with more information on Fireworks around the area, the celebration on the Esplanade the Pops
MBTA Schedule for July 4th and July 5th Update 6.28.10
Here is the information released by the MBTA, "The MBTA is prepared for the July 4 festivities with an increase in service for the thousands of people traveling to and from the Esplanade. Along with more service; bus, subway, and commuter rail fares will not be collected from 10:30 p.m. to the end of service on Sunday, July 4.
With the increase in service and addition of T personnel and Transit Police prepared to help customers to their destination, MBTA General Manager Rich Davey said, “I am encouraging people to take public transportation to the esplanade. The T is the most efficient, safest, cost effective way to get to one of Boston’s busiest holiday celebrations. Be smart and leave the driving to us.”
- Blue, Green, Orange, and Red Lines will operate on a Sunday schedule on July 4 and 5, with an enhanced schedule on July 4 providing extra service for customers heading to and from the Esplanade.
- Commuter rail trains will operate on a Saturday schedule with all of the last trains, but one, departing at 11:45 p.m. (approximately 45 minutes after the fireworks display ends).
The sole exception is Train #1173 to Newburyport*, which will depart North Station at 11:15 pm.
- Click here for full list of final Commuter rail trains out of Boston.
- PLEASE NOTE: SUBWAY AND COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE WILL OPERATE ON A SUNDAY SCHEDULE ON MONDAY, JULY 5."
- Bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule on July 4 and July 5, with extra bus service on key routes serving the Esplanade area on July 4:
- Route #39 (Forest Hills Station -- Back Bay Station via Copley Square
- Route #57 (Watertown Square -- Kenmore Station via Brighton Center)
- Special express bus service between Arlington and Riverside Stations. This service will supplement Green Line service at the end of the fireworks display.
- Special RIDE shuttle vans will be available to carry persons with disabilities between the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary parking lot and the Esplanade. This service will start at 8:00 a.m. and run through 6:00 p.m. for transportation to the seating area reserved for persons with disabilities. Return service will be available at the conclusion of the event.
- Note: There will be no extra charge for this shuttle, nor will there be any fare charged for service as customers depart the Esplanade.
WATER TRANSPORTATION
- Hingham commuter ferry will not operate on July 4 and will operate on a revised weekday schedule on July 5.
- Hull commuter boat will not operate
- Quincy commuter ferry services to Long Wharf and Logan Airport will operate on a Saturday schedule on July 4, and a Sunday schedule on July 5.
- The Charlestown Navy Yard to Long Wharf inner harbor ferry will operate on a weekend schedule on July 4, and a regular weekday schedule on July 5."
For more information about MBTA services, routes, schedules and fares, call the T’s Customer Information Center at 617-222-3200 (TDD 617-222-5146) or log onto the MBTA’s website www.mbta.com.
Save storage space with these collapsible coolers
. Perfect for small city homes. We have an older version of the Arctic Zone 30 model, and it's amazing at keeping things chilled. We not only use it for picnics, but grab it to go grocery shopping.
Details:
Writer: Ed Cherubino
Photos: © 2007 Mick Timony, under Creative Commons license - see his site for details
More of Mick's photos