Boston Harborfest
June 29-July 4, 2011
Boston Harborfest celebrates the city's rich colonial and maritime history. The six-day festival is also a celebration of the July 4th holiday and America's independence from Great Britain.
There are more than 200 Harborfest events, with major happenings scheduled such as Children's Day, Party on the Plaza concerts, Boston Chowderfest, historic reenactments, and a maritime race and/or parade along Boston's waterfront. The other main July 4th celebration in Boston is the famous Boston Pops Concert with a large fireworks display at the Esplanade.
The first Harborfest took place in 1981, and the festival is very similar in nature to the huge bicentennial celebration of 1976, and later Tall Ships maritime events. The Harborfest has expanded over the years, with many local businesses now hosting unique events during the week. Visitors can attend exhibits or lectures at Faneuil Hall or the USS Constitution Museum, enjoy a free concert at City Hall Plaza, or go on a whale watch or large sailing vessel. Many events are not free, but special exhibitions are added just for the Harborfest at many historic sites and other venues in the city.
Thursday June 30, 2011 is Children's Day on City Hall Plaza. Wayne Potash & The Music Fun Band will perform at the Children's Day Tent from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm: "Singer/songwriter Wayne Potash leads The Music Fun Band in performing a sensational sing-a-long show for children and adults alike. Great new songs, old favorites and story songs about ‘bugs, beasts, fishes, and friendship’ are featured, accompanied by banjo, guitar and ukulele."
There will be two main concerts on Friday July 1, 2011 at City Hall Plaza. Rico Barr & the Jump ‘n’ Jive Review will perform from 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm, with the BaHa Brothers performing from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm. "Rico Barr & the Jump ‘n’ Jive Review is New England's premiere dance band. Their repertoire includes the history of Dance music from the jazz and rock decades, especially contemporary and classic swing. The BaHa Brothers are a five-piece band that favors Jimmy Buffett, classic rock from the 1960s and 1970s and their own compositions."
The annual Party on the Plaza will take place on Saturday July 2, 2011. U.S. Air Force band Afterburner will perform from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, with Girls Nite Out and Disco Inferno performing from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm. "Afterburner is made up entirely of active duty U.S. Air Force personnel. This nationally recognized group has opened for The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Lee Ann Womack. Hear their take on Motown classics, blues, and even some country rock. Disco Inferno is the Northeast's hottest and most authentic flashback to the 70's dance band. The nine-piece group combines great dance music from the disco/funk era with a fun, interactive stage show that appeals to people of all ages."
The famous Boston Chowderfest will take place on Sunday July 3, 2011 at City Hall Plaza from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Local restaurants compete for Boston's Best Chowder award. It's an all-you-can-eat clam chowder ticketed event for a moderate price. The restaurants take the competition very seriously and it's a great way to sample several different chowder recipes from some of the finest restaurants in the city. Attendees actually vote on which chowder was their favorite to determine the winner.
In 2011, an Extreme Sailing race will also take place, with special activities set up at Boston's Fan Pier in the Seaport District. Eleven multi-hull sailboats from around the world will race each afternoon, starting June 30th.
Don't forget fireworks over the Charles River at the end of the Boston Pops Concert at about 10:30 pm. For details about the many Haborfest events during the week, check out the official web site below.
Contact Information & Address:
Boston Harborfest (City Hall Plaza Venue)
1 City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA
bostonharborfest.com
