Early birds stake out spots on the Esplanade for Fourth of July celebration
The early birds burst on to the Esplanade near the Hatch Shell, angling for prime spots at Saturday night’s 42nd Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular.
Gates opened at 9 a.m. Saturday. The free concert was to begin at 8:30 p.m. before fireworks at 10:30 p.m., according to the bostonglobe.com guide to the festivities.
The fastest members of “The Red, White, and Blue Crew’’ came tearing across the grass in front of the Hatch Shell, unfurling green tarps as they ran.
They belted out commands as they hit the edge of the fence at the very front — a coveted spot they claim every year.
“Help me get this open!’’ “Spin this!’’ “Bring this back!’’ “We’re missing a tarp!’’
Megan Schinker, 13 years old and decked out in a sequined red hat, planted her feet across four tarps and raised her hands in the air in triumph.
“This area is now claimed by us!’’ she shouted, and the 25 or so other members of the group — hailing from Ohio, Virginia, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and bound by a love of being first at the Fourth of July celebration — hooted and clapped.
Schinker and her group were among more than 100 people who lined up early and spilled onto the grass for the night’s show just after 9 a.m.
The teenager from Stow, Ohio, has come to the celebration every year of her life, but this was the first time she ran to plant tarps instead of following behind with supplies.
She arrived with her family Friday at noon, and they stargazed all night to hold their place in line.
The last 15 minutes before they were allowed to run out, Schinker said, “was like, ‘is this really happening?’’’
After a few chaotic minutes of tarp spreading, she flopped down panting on the green plastic.
“It’s fun!’’ She said. “It’s two long days but it’s worth it!’’
Harriet Sesen, of Plymouth, got here at 10:00 a.m. Friday and slept in her chair to snag the first spot in line. “I feel it’s my day to be patriotic.’’
Sesen has been coming here every year since 1976. “It’s kind of a tradition with me and my family. We all love it.’’
She pointed to other friends here like Alexis Morris, 14, of Gloucester standing beside her in a pair of stars and stripes gym shorts. She has known him since he was a baby.
“We have our red, white and blue family, our extended family. We all met here,’’ said Sesen.
It’s the 20th year for Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart and a number of special guests have been invited.
Security is tight due to terror concerns, but officials have said there is no specific threat.
“Just a lot of general concerns, suspicious behavior’’ said Massachusetts State Police Colonel Timothy Alben at a Saturday morning press conference in the Unified Command Center near the Esplanade.
Officials from local, state, and federal agencies — including State, Boston, Cambridge, Transit, and Somerville Police, the Boston and Cambridge Fire Departments, Boston EMS, MEMA, the National Weather Service, the FAA, the National Guard, the FBI and the Secret Service — are working together, he said, to keep close tabs on the goings-on in the city.
Big screens set up behind Alben as he spoke showed surveillance camera views of the Hatch Shell, the Esplanade, and the streets around the Back Bay; another screen showed a helicopter’s aerial view of the festivities; still another screen showed current weather information.
“We have a lot going on here,’’ said Alben. “This is an international event for Boston.’’
Alben said that the prospect of a “lone wolf’’ terror attack was on officials’ radar, but that it was an issue all the time.
“That’s true every day,’’ said Alben. “That’s an ongoing concern across this country and world.’’
A number of security rules will affect what spectators can bring. A new one, added this year: a ban on drones.
Road closures and parking restrictions are in place.
Organizers have recommended that people take the MBTA instead of driving. They suggest that people get off at either Charles-MGH on the Red Line or Arlington Street on the Green Line.
The event will be telecast on WBZ-TV, WBZ radio, and WCRB-FM radio.
It will also be webcast at www.bostonpopsjuly4th.org and www.cbsboston.com.
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