BOSTON (WHDH) - Crowds gathered on the Esplanade for this year’s Boston Pops Fourth of July Spectacular Tuesday, braving rain and the threat of more severe storms to stake out spots to see the Pops and a slate of special guests take the stage.
The show began around 8 p.m. and wrapped up with its annual fireworks display at 10:30 p.m.
Along the way, R&B icons En Vogue belted their hits alongside the legendary Boston Pops.
Country duo LoCash also helped celebrate America’s Birthday, hitting the stage after taking in the Red Sox earlier in the day.
“Man, we’re going to bring some energy tonight. We’re going to work the stage a little bit, get everybody’s hands up,” member Preston Brust told 7NEWS before the LoCash set. “We might crowd surf a bit.”
This year’s program was put together to highlight the diversity of America. Among acts, it included a portion marking the 25th anniversary of the musical Ragtime.
Broadway leading lady Mandy Gonzalez performed classics from Lin-Manuel Miranda musicals.
Legendary composer and former Boston Pops conductor John Williams was also honored with some of his iconic movie scores.
The US Military, as always, featured through the show before the epic, ear-ringing finale of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.
A night to remember for the thousands who packed the Esplanade, Tuesday’s festivities began hours earlier when gates opened for the Fireworks Spectacular at 12 p.m. to a rush of attendees.
In an update around 2:30 p.m., state police announced they were temporarily suspending entry onto the Esplanade.
“This is being done so that if we do have to evacuate the venue in case of lightning, fewer visitors will have to be evacuated,” state police said.
In a later update, police said checkpoints would reopen at 5 p.m. and the screening process would resume.
Police said the Pops concert and fireworks would begin as scheduled and thanked members of the public “for their patience during this temporary restriction.”
Rain was still falling in Boston around 5 p.m., though there were signs of improvement. By 8 p.m., calmer weather had arrived.
Rain or shine, many guests made up a rush of red white and blue, complete with rain boots on Tuesday, waiting for hours through the rain to secure optimal viewing spots in front of the Hatch Shell.
Concertgoer James Barnes said he had been waiting since Monday afternoon.
“We were overnight in the pouring rain,” he said. “I survived.”
Reisa Volkert said she has been attending the Fireworks Spectacular since 1976.
“We’re celebrating our country,” Volkert said. “We are celebrating the people who protect our country.”
Part of a military family, Volkert said the festivities are “very important” to her.
“We’re known for being patriotic and being here no matter what kind of weather we have,” said Maryann Rollings of Bolton, Mass.
Within the crowd, one woman was celebrating what will be a special Fourth of July as she applies to become a US citizen.
“This is very special for me and now I can say proudly, ‘I’m going to be an American,’” said Marites Myers.
Even with a downpour, Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart, performing in his 28th show, said he knew there’s no place he or the crowd would rather be.
“There are people who are in this crowd, the red white and blue crew, who have been coming for longer than I’ve been doing it,” he said. “There are people who predate me by a decade or so and it’s really kind of amazing to see.”
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