Gov. Maura Healey unveils star‑studded July 4 Boston Pops Esplanade concert as centerpiece of Massachusetts 250

Boston — Governor Maura Healey announced onstage at the Thomas M. Menino Convention and Exhibition Center that the July 4 Boston Pops concert on the Esplanade will be the centerpiece of Massachusetts’ 250th‑anniversary summer, unveiling a headline lineup, safety plans and broadcasting partners. The governor and event organizers said the free, nationally televised celebration will include fireworks choreographed to live music and a drone show.

The program’s centerpiece will feature the Boston Pops with three Grammy‑winning headline artists: country singer Lainie Wilson, Chance the Rapper and Trombone Shorty, Governor Healey said. “It’s free, open to all, and nationally televised,” Healey said, urging residents and visitors to plan for an unprecedented celebration in Boston.

Why it matters: Organizers described the event as a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to showcase Massachusetts’ cultural and historical contributions while drawing national and international attention. Bob Rivers, chair of the Mass 2 50 effort, told attendees the campaign has raised major corporate support and that the Healy‑Driscoll administration and the Massachusetts Legislature are underwriting the initiative with “over $6,000,000 in grants,” including $2,000,000 earmarked as the main sponsor of this year’s Pops concert.

Program and broadcast details: Keith Lockhart, conductor of the Boston Pops, said the show will include world premieres and a broad supporting cast of choirs and community ensembles. He described a program designed to highlight Massachusetts’ role in the nation’s founding and its contemporary arts scene. Organizers said portions of the event will be broadcast by WHDH Channel 7 locally and streamed on the CNN app and cnn.com; CNN will carry pieces of the program, including the fireworks, on a national broadcast of July Fourth celebrations.

Safety and logistics: Healey and city officials said they are coordinating a multi‑agency safety and transportation plan. The governor thanked state police, Boston police, transit police, Department of Conservation and Recreation rangers and other local partners for planning crowd safety; organizers noted enhanced transit service through the MBTA to help move large crowds.

City role and programming: Steven Chan, chief partnerships officer for the city of Boston, representing Mayor Michelle Wu, described Boston’s role in coordinating public‑private partners and previewed related events across the city: an expanded Independence Day parade beginning at Copley Plaza, a morning reading of the Declaration of Independence from the Old State House balcony, and a series of neighborhood markers and programs tied to the Massachusetts 250 commemoration. Chan said the city and the Boston Foundation have made $150,000 in programming and marketing grants available to organizations and businesses working on Boston‑area events.

Funding and sponsors: Organizers displayed a list of corporate supporters that includes Eastern Bank and Takeda at the highest level, and a long roster of banks, insurers, life sciences and cultural organizations at multiple tiers. Rivers and other speakers repeatedly thanked major sponsors and called for additional contributions; materials distributed at the event showed sponsorship opportunities beginning at $10,000.

What’s next: Organizers said the July 4 Esplanade program will begin at 7 p.m. and run into the evening, with additional public programming scheduled across July; they encouraged attendees to consult the event and partner websites for travel and programming details. The press conference closed with co‑chairs of the corporate engagement committee thanking sponsors and inviting attendees to record short remembrances for Mass Humanities.

Quotes

“Mass 2 50 represents a unique opportunity to highlight Massachusetts leadership, history, and future,” Bob Rivers said while thanking corporate and civic partners for fundraising and coordination.

“As the governor just revealed, this year's show presents three major stars in three distinctly American genres,” Keith Lockhart said as he previewed supporting performers and premieres scheduled for the Esplanade program.

“We’re also gonna do it safely,” Healey said, thanking the state and local public safety partners who worked on the event plan.

The event was presented as a free, public celebration with multiple partners and sponsors; organizers said specific operational details, transit advisories and final programming will be posted ahead of the July 4 events.