Though the live performance of the 1812 Overture was cancelled, the July Fourth fireworks display was no damp squib. Boston’s strong, and we know it.
It’s a wet Fourth of July in Boston. Arthur’s visiting. Outside, the rain pours relentlessly. Not an evening for fireworks and crowds. Earlier, at a quick moment’s notice, Boston’s July 4th Pops Concert and Firework Spectacular show got rescheduled. The fireworks display was also moved up earlier in time than expected.
July 3rd, 2014
On the Esplanade in Cambridge, near MIT, huge crowds gathered. Oppressing heat did not deter the patriotic crowd thronging the area. The restaurants nearby had run out of the popular choices, They had anticipated demand, prepared for the Fourth. Mother Nature had other plans. Restaurant hopping, we landed at Clover which had only a few options left. We had to settle for seltzer, as they had run out of all cold drinks. Perhaps they had all the hot drinks, but no one seemed to want them. With the slim choices, we managed to pick a quick dinner, ate al fresco, then ambled to the Esplanade. Just as we took a good position, we heard the announcement. The fireworks display would have an early start. Unfortunately, there would be no live performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture,
The fireworks were spectacular. From patriotic Yankee Doodle, Grand Old Flag, America the Beautiful, to popular songs such as Let it Go, Moments like This, Roar, the fireworks danced over the Charles, lighting up Boston and Cambridge. It’s a moving and beautiful tribute to celebrate the USA’s birthday. God Bless America!
The display was varied, floral beauties in the forms of chrysanthemums and lilacs shot through the sky. Stars, stripes, rainbows, shooting stars, some in red, white, and blue stoked the patriot spirit. A sudden smiley face got the audience smiling back at the happy surprise. It was all there, the lights, the colors, the sights, the sounds.
It’s a sheer delight to see the Prudential Tower reflect back the dramatic lights and color.River Charles moves rhythmically to it all. Watching the same up close, it’s simply breathtaking. The Boston show always pulls the patriotic strings, and why not? It is the home of the American Revolution after all.
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Right after the fireworks show, State Police evacuated the Esplanade. Pressing among hundreds of sweaty bodies, we inched slowly, feeling claustrophobic. The humidity and heat reached a peak. Just when we reached the breaking point of wanting to throw off every shred of clothing, huge plops of water landed on us with no warning. They felt cool and wonderful on the skin. Very quickly sheets of rain descended from the skies, and we were sopping wet; soaked to the skin in seconds. As we waddled home like wet ducks, we could not help marveling at the way Boston put on such a spectacular display. Even Mother Nature could not rain on her Parade. As a fitting finale, she added to the grand show with lightning, thunder, and a cooling shower.
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