Cambridge Emergency Management Department 

Fourth of July, 2008

For 35 years, Cambridge and Boston have enjoyed a truly outstanding Fourth of July celebration that centers around the Charles River.  A concert by the Boston Pops Orchestra in the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade on the Boston side of the Charles is joined with a fireworks show fired from barges moored in the middle of the Charles.    The fireworks show will be visible along Memorial Drive..  Between the Longfellow Bridge and the Harvard (Massachusetts Avenue) Bridge there will be sounds towers broadcasting the audio from the concert.  For additional information check out  Boston's Fourth of July   The event is nationally televised.  This year the master of ceremonies will again be Craig Ferguson, host of The Late, Late Show and Rascal Flatts will perform.  The best way to get to the event on the Cambridge side is to take the MBTA Red Line to Kendall Station and walk about a block to the river.  If you want to go to the Boston side, take the Red Line to Charles Street station.  If you are buying an MBTA fare card for the event pay your fare to the event and remember that the MBTA is not charging fares after 10:30PM on the 4th.  Please note the pedestrian restrictions for the Longfellow Bridge described below.

Cambridge Fourth of July Do's and Don'ts:

Do:

Bring plenty of drinking water and sunscreen as the weather may be hot.

Agree on a family meeting spot to get together if you are separated.  

Bring a blanket or ground cloth to sit on.

Bring insect repelling spray or lotion.

Note the location of the medical tent directly in front of 100 Memorial Drive, between Wadsworth Street and Ames Street.  It is staffed with personnel from the Cambridge Fire Department , and Professional Ambulance Inc. 

If anyone in your family might need medicine be sure to bring it with you.  

Remember that the Lost Child area is next to the medical tent.

Bring a litter bag so you can carry away your cans, bottles, diapers and other trash

Check the Cambridge Emergency Management Weatherlink so you are prepared for the weather.

Don't 

Don't bring alcoholic beverages.  They are illegal on DCR property.

Don't even think of bringing fireworks, firecrackers, bottle rockets etc.  They are illegal and they are very dangerous.  

Don't bring grills, stoves or barbecues, they are not allowed.

Don't bring food that requires refrigeration.  Food poisoning could ruin the day for your family.

Don't bring loud radios that might annoy others.

Don't bring pets, they might frighten others, they could get lost or they could become ill from the heat. Please remember that most dogs get really frightened by fireworks. Let Fido have a quiet evening at home.

Don't use the Lost Child tent as a general meeting place, it can cause confusion.

Don't let your children chew on the "snap and glow" lightstick toys often sold by un-permitted vendors.  Every year we have had incidents involved broken lightstick toys getting fluid into children's mouth or eyes.  The material is non-toxic but is very bitter and causes gagging.  It also is irritating to the eyes much like soap or shampoo.  We know that many parents find it somewhat distressing when their child's eyes or mouth glow in the dark.  If it should happen, please don't panic, just bring the child to the medical tent for assistance.  

Lost Kids:

If you lose your child, notify the nearest public safety officer (State Police, Cambridge Police or Fire, DCR Ranger, Soldier, or EMT).  Be prepared to describe child and clothes, age, size, name, and language if the child doesn't speak English.

If you find a lost child immediately bring the child to the nearest public safety officer (State Police, Cambridge Police or Fire, DCR Ranger, Soldier, or EMT).  

Please remember that for the past 25 years we have always reunited every child and her/his family before the evening is over.  We have never ended the evening with either a surplus or shortage of lost children.  

Road Closings & Parking Restrictions

Longfellow Bridge Restrictions:

Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) engineers have determined that there are structural problems with the Longfellow Bridge.  Because of this the Longfellow Bridge closing information is listed separately.  Please note that spectators will not be allowed on the bridge.

(Sidewalk on Cambridge-to-Boston side is currently closed and fenced in for repairs.)

• Longfellow Bridge closed to all vehicles.

4:30 p.m.

• Bridge will open in both directions for pedestrians.

• Vehicles will be prohibited until clean-up crews have completed their work.

• No parking on Memorial Drive (either side) between Massachusetts Avenue and the

• Storrow Drive (both directions) between Leverett Circle and Kenmore Square will be

• The Storrow Drive exit ramp in the Tip O’Neil Tunnel will be closed to all traffic

• Closures will include the on-ramps to Storrow Drive from Berkeley Street, Charlesgate

• No parking at Magazine Beach Area, and no boat launching in this area.

• Pedestrian footbridge to the Esplanade at Charles Street Circle closed.

• Pedestrian footbridge from Beacon Street to the Esplanade closed.

• Mugar Way at Beacon Street closed to all pedestrian traffic.

Noon

• Memorial Drive closed in both directions from Longfellow Bridge to Massachusetts Avenue.

• Memorial Drive closed between Massachusetts Avenue bridge and the B.U. Bridge.

• Massachusetts Avenue Bridge closed to vehicles in both directions from Beacon Street

• Craigie Draw Bridge (at Leverett Circle) open for vehicular traffic for 2 hours or until

July 4th

4:30 East Cambridge road closings

The area bounded by Cambridge Street and Binney Street, from Third Street to Fulkerson Street will be closed to all through traffic and will be open only to local traffic from 4:30PM until midnight of July 4th

Restrictions for specific locations in Cambridge

 4:30 PM One Memorial Drive 

Only vehicles with permit from One Memorial will be allowed on Main St. to enter building.

They MUST enter between 4:30PM and 7:30PM.

Only vehicles with permit will be allowed on Memorial Dr. when exiting from building.

They MUST exit between 11:30PM and 1:30AM.

These permitted vehicles, on exiting must take a right onto Wadsworth, then left on Amherst, and then must turn right onto Ames Street.

6:00 PM Hyatt Hotel 

ALL traffic should enter the hotel from the BU Bridge and Memorial Drive area.

At Memorial and Vassar – State Police will monitor – only vehicles with room/dinner reservations at hotel will be allowed through.

Vehicles will take a left onto Amesbury Street – to hotel entrance, which will be monitored by a hotel staff member.

Another State Trooper - located further east on Memorial Drive will monitor traffic and stop those who may consider going down Memorial.

At Amesbury and Vassar - a Cambridge Police officer will direct vehicles that have gone down Amesbury in error - to take a left onto Vassar where they will go right back onto Memorial Drive and toward the BU Bridge. A Cambridge Police officer - located at Vassar and Mass. Ave will only allow vehicles with residence or reservations  at the Hyatt down Vassar

 Parking

There is no parking on Memorial Drive inbound and outbound from the BU Bridge to the Longfellow Bridge from 12:01 AM on July 4 to 6:30 PM on July 5

Parking in the Kendall Square area is in very short supply.  Please plan to take the MBTA  This could save you and your family from disappointment and frustration.

Parking and access for persons with disabilities

People with disabilities will be admitted into a designated area at the Esplanade on a "first come, first served" basis. Each

person is allowed only one guest. The designated area will close when filled or at 6PM which ever comes first. 

Parking for concert-goers with disabilities on July 4th is available at the Mass. Eye & Ear Infirmary lot #2 beginning at 10 AM on July 4th. This

lot can be accessed by entering Storrow Drive outbound from Leverett Circle and exiting at the Charles Circle off-ramp.

The lot entrance is at the far left of the beginning of the ramp. Vehicles must display a handicapped plate or placard. The

MBTA will provide free shuttle van service between the parking lot and Esplanade from 10 AM - 6:00 PM (or until the

area is filled). There is no access on Storrow and Memorial Drives.

Wheelchair accessible restrooms are available at the event. Please note – There is no handicapped parking on July 3rd.

People needing additional information can call:

1-888-484-7677 (4th-POPS)

  or check online at Boston's Fourth of July

Return  to the Cambridge Emergency Management Page

or go to the City of Cambridge Homepage

This page updated on June 28th, 2008