Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the City of Boston will kick-off the 35th annual Boston Harborfest at Faneuil Hall Marketplace on Friday, July 1 at 12:00 p.m. noon.
“Harborfest is a Boston tradition, and I’m proud that each year, the festival celebrates our City’s diverse and historic waterfront,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “Harborfest will bring thousands of residents and visitors to downtown Boston to commemorate the birth of our nation, and I thank our partners for another year of great events in our City.”
Boston Harborfest is a multi-day festival with activities celebrating American Independence, honoring the city’s colonial roots, and showcasing Boston’s vibrant harbor. City of Boston’s John Barros, Chief of Economic Development and Harborfest partners will be joined by Rear Admiral Steven Poulin, First Commander, United States Coast Guard Sector Boston; Commander Robert Gerosa, Captain, USS Constitution; Tom Kershaw, President, Boston Harborfest; Pat Moscaritolo, President and Chief Executive Officer, Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau;Francois-Laurent Nivaud, Executive Director, MA Office of Travel & Tourism; and Joe O’Malley, General Manager of Faneuil Hall Marketplace during the celebration to kick-off the festival.
Residents, visitors and businesses are invited to participate in the patriotic opening ceremony, which will feature The 215 Army Band who will lead the crowd in singing the National Anthem, and the ceremonial cutting of the Harborfest cake. Commander Poulin and Commander Gerosa and special guests will use a cutglass (sword) to cut the cake, provided by Faneuil Hall Marketplace and created by White’s Bakery. National Park Service Park Rangers and Freedom Trail® Players, dressed in 18th-century costume, will be on hand to offer historical information about Faneuil Hall and other sites along the Freedom Trail.
Held from July 1 through July 4, Harborfest celebrates the colonial and maritime heritage of America’s independence in Boston. Over the years, Harborfest has grown from a local event to a national celebration. In 1982 there were 35 activities over the course of three days. Now in its 35th year, Harborfest is considered to be the country’s largest Fourth of July festival with hundreds of activities over a 4-day period at Boston’s best landmarks.
For more Harborfest information and a list of activities, please call 617-439-7700 or visit www.Bostonharborfest.com