A Boston tradition! Footloose on the Freedom Trail is a 3 hour guided walking tour of the entire Freedom Trail from the Boston Common and Massachusetts State House to the U.S.S. Constitution offered every Independence Day.

Walk the 2.5-mile route with us on this patriotic tour through 16 historic sites, as it winds its way through the various special events. There's no better time to do it than on the Fourth of July, no better way to start off the day, and no better way to celebrate America's birthday!

photograph of the reading of the Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence broadside printing prepared by John Dunlap arrived in Massachusetts via express riders on July 15, 1776 and was printed in Ezekiel Russell's American Gazette, a Salem newspaper, on July 16.

Colonel Thomas Crafts read the Declaration from the balcony of the Town House on July 18, 1776, the same day it appeared in The New-England Chronicle, Vol. VIII No. 413, published by Edward E. Powars & Nathanial Willis.

Crowds gather every year to hear a reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Old State House. Photo by Tom Coppeto. 2007.

The 4th of July is a very exciting day in Boston. Downtown festivities include the reading of the Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Old State House, the turnaround of the U.S.S Constitution, reenactments, military parades, concerts, and ceremonies honoring a number of our Founding Fathers such as Samuel Adams and John Hancock.

photograph of the Boston Pops
The granite Hatch Shell was built in 1940 with funds donated by Maria Hatch in memory of her brother, Edward. The largest orchestra audience in history attended the 4th of July concert in 1976. That record of 400,000 has since been broken 3 times. At the Hatch Shell in 1998, 2003 and 2004.
The Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra at the Hatch Shell joined by the Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes & Drums and John Mellencamp. Keith Lockhart conducting. Photo by Tom Coppeto. 2007.

The tour ends in the Charlestown Navy Yard. Following the tour, you may wish to check out the USS Constitution Museum or enjoy the views on a water shuttle trip back to downtown. Celebrations throughout Boston continue through the day and conclude with the Pops concert and fireworks display over the Charles River.

Boston celebrates July 4th for six days, and so do we! Check out our Boston Harborfest events.

Boston By Foot Brochure listing Boston tours in 2013 season Boston By Foot Guided Walking Tours For Boston By Foot Docents. Explore Boston on a Boston By Foot walking tour. The Dark Side of Boston.