Again, this time change is for the July 3rd performance. Times for the 4th remain the same
 

Q: What are you doing the day before the event?
A: I distribute all of the credentials for the event to all the different agencies and groups that need them. I arrange for press tours of the barges to see the setup, and I arrange for interviews to help out the various media that want to find out more about the production. I bring the fireworks crew out to the barges, first thing, at 6 in the morning to get to work. Finally, I work with the National Guard and I coordinate the cannons before and during the event.

Q: What are you doing the day of the event?
A: I'm dealing with the media and making sure that everything is going fine on the media riser we have in front of the Oval. On the day of the event, I work with the National Guard to make sure they have their meals, and I deal with the fireworks and cannons. We like to fire the cannons before the event to test them and for fun, and we usually fire them about 30 times a day just for fun.

Q: When you hear “Fourth of July,” what do you think of?
A: This event. This is my 36th year doing it, so I've been doing it for a while. It's a world-renowned event that is copied all around the country, but it all comes back to David Mugar and Arthur Fiedler. I think about the concert, the fireworks, what a great event it is and what it has become. It is all I've known for basically my whole adult life.

Q: What is your favorite part of the Fourth of July celebration?
A: The first time we fire during the 1812 Overture. There is very specific music and it is just a lot of fun when we fire the cannons. Most of the crowd knows it's coming, and they're excited, but its not often that you get to a see a full-size cannon fired up close.

Q: If you could meet anyone in history, who would you meet?
A: Any president while they get ready to make a decision that's going to affect the world. I greatly admire people that have to make life-or-death decisions that have great consequences and what thought processes they go through. Now, I have the benefit of hindsight to see how that decision turned out, but back when we were a much younger country, it would be harder.

Q: What are the three objects you can't live without on the Fourth?
A: A radio, shorts, and my cell phone.

Q: How did you get involved with the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular?
A: When David Mugar started it, he was working at WGBH Channel 2 in Boston. David would use the technical people at WGBH to help him put on the concert. He used the sound engineers and television people that worked there to help with the sound systems and things like that on the Fourth. In 1976, my cousin happened to be a sound engineer at WGBH. He called me up one day and said, “Hey, a bunch of us are going to put on this concert. Can you come help?” I went down, and as soon as I got there David Mugar handed me a portable radio. He said, “Go down by the Hatch. There are a bunch of cannons down there, and when I tell you to fire them, do it.”

Q: How has the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular changed since you started?
A: It has changed in probably every single way imaginable. It obviously has gotten much larger in size, but it has also grown in importance to the city, the region, and actually the country because people look forward to watching it on TV. It has grown into a Top 20 nationally televised event. It has gotten more sophisticated with sound systems and broadcasting technology. Every aspect of it has changed as technology has evolved. You have to remember, when we started, we had no cell phones and the fireworks were set off with flares. To get the sounds of the church bells ringing, we literally took speaker wire and dragged it across the street to the belfry. It has really grown in every way, and it is more sophisticated. David was the pioneer in organizing unified command systems, where the agencies get together and coordinate before the event. No one did that before David, and now everyone does. Every time there is a major event in the Boston area, the organization goes back to David's vision of how to run an operation and coordinate a bunch of agencies.

Q: What effect has working on the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular had on you?
A: I've been doing it for so long. It has been nothing but a positive experience all these years. We surround ourselves with great people, We're good at what we do and we know what we're doing. My co-workers and my friends associate me with this event. It helps you to deal with all sorts of things. My real job with the Boston Fire Department and working with the media and press all evolved from this job.

Q: What are you thinking/feeling on the day of the show, after all of your preparation is done?
A: The first thing I always hope for is good weather because that drives the day and sets the tone of the event. You want the weather to be great so that people can enjoy the event, enjoy some great music, and see some world-class fireworks. At the end of the day, if we had no mishaps and everyone got to see the fireworks, then I am more than satisfied.
 

Q: What are you doing the day before the event?
A: I go to the rehearsal.

Q: What are you doing the day of the event?
A: I come all day. I shoot 1000 images of the activities of the day.

Q: When you hear “Fourth of July,” what do you think of?
A: How lucky I am to be an American. Where could you do this in other countries?

Q: What is your favorite part of the Fourth of July celebration?
A: The 1812 Overture because it is so patriotic.

Q: If you could meet anyone in history, who would you meet?
A: I met Pope John Paul II when he was here in Boston. He was inspiring.

Q: What are the three objects you can't live without on the Fourth?
A: My cameras, water, and good weather.

Q: How did you get involved with the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular?
A: I was with Arthur Fiedler and David Mugar 38 years ago when they talked about it. I was in the car with them.

Q: How has the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular changed since you started?
A: It got better every year. The presentation every year seems to get better, and the talent seems to be getting better all the time.

Q: What effect has working on the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular had on you?
A: Great friendships have been made through this event.

Q: What are some of the challenges you have had to overcome to make the event possible?
A: None, really. I just ask for good weather. Not too hot.

Q: What are you thinking/feeling on the day of the show, after all of your preparation is done?
A: I'm excited and I'm anticipating good pictures. Looking forward to it.
 

Q: What are you doing the day before the event?
A: For a number of days before, I'm interacting with people, dealing with the surprises that come every year. You really never know what you're going to deal with year to year. I'm just a little fireman who is here to put out the bushfires that come up.

Q: What are you doing the day of the event?
A: In the morning, I start watching Memorial Drive as vendors are coming in to see that they are working according to our plan. I work with the Cambridge Police on that, and by 3:00pm we start setting up the Unified Command Center on the Cambridge side.

Q: When you hear “Fourth of July,” what do you think of?
A: Happiness is too simple a word. It's a unique experience. I think it's the amount of people who congregate and just come out to enjoy a night. It's a nice free evening and a lot of people take advantage of it.

Q: What is your favorite part of the Fourth of July celebration?
A: The music. The fireworks are spectacular also. And again, I go back to the people. I usually walk out around 9:30 or quarter of 10, when it is filling up, and I just love seeing everyone getting excited and expecting the fireworks.

Q: If you could meet anyone in history, who would you meet?
A: Harry Truman because he seemed like just a regular guy. Having never met Harry Truman and being from his era, he is interesting to me because he gets credit for a lot of tough decisions in history. He seems like kind of a movie character to me, coming from a small town and then doing a great job as president. He's someone I'd just like to talk to.

Q: What are the three objects you can't live without on the Fourth?
A: Water, my cell phone, and energy.

Q: How did you get involved with the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular?
A: I was originally with the police and we were always detailed there on the Fourth of July, especially with the fireworks in 1974, the first year. Then, over the years, I worked up until I retired. After that, I went to work for the Fourth of July as a Cambridge consultant. So, I've been there continuously for as long as David Mugar has been there. The idea for the fireworks and the cannons came from David Mugar and Arthur Fiedler when they wanted to show the crowd something amazing, and I've been there since then.

Q: What effect has working on the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular had on you?
A: I love the people. I go back each year to see how many people come out, and I like seeing how the crowd grows to hundreds of thousands of people. I also do the same thing each year. Every Fourth of July, I judge the crowds the moment the fireworks end and time how long the crowd takes to vacate the area with no incidence. It is usually about 8 minutes. It is just a steady stream of people. It is all very orderly, and that is unique to me.

Q: What are you thinking/feeling on the day of the show, after all of your preparation is done?
A: Thank God for letting me be around for another year. It gives me something to look forward to for the next event. Policemen and workers retire and interns leave, but equally good people always come back and fit the mold perfectly. It's so unique to this event.
 

To help, our sponsor, Liberty Mutual Insurance, is proud to present Bring Back the 4thTM, an online contest allowing U.S. cities and towns to compete for 10 $10,000 grants to support their official Fourth of July events. From now through June 14th, people across America can visit http://www.BringBackThe4th.com to help earn funding for their communities' July 4th traditions.

Here is how the contest works: Upon visiting the BringBackThe4th.com website, visitors are prompted to take a brief quiz on Responsible Moments in U.S. History; featuring questions about people who helped shape our nation and inspire others. Each completed quiz counts as one credit towards the site visitor's town, and the 10 U.S. municipalities with the most quizzes completed on their behalf will be eligible to win grants.

Website visitors may take the quiz once, and are encouraged to rally family, friends and co-workers to visit BringBackThe4th.com and take the quiz themselves.
 

Last year, more than 48,000 Americans participated in Bring Back the 4th, representing over 3,200 U.S. cities and towns. Would you like to support the local tradition your family has come to know and love? Visit http://www.BringBackThe4th.com today!
 

Q: What are you doing the day before the event?
A: Working, working, working. :-)

Q: What are you doing the day of the event?
A: Working, working, working, and more working, but more relaxed because all the preparation beforehand should pay off. There is also a great sense of camaraderie that exists during the event that I just love.

Q: When you hear “Fourth of July,” what do you think of?
A: The American Flag.

Q: What is your favorite part of the Fourth of July celebration?
A: That it is one of the few remaining family events. It is just good simple fun and allows us to celebrate our good fortune and show our patriotism.

Q: If you could meet anyone in history, who would you meet?
A: No question - Abraham Lincoln.

Q: What are the three objects you can't live without on the Fourth?
A: My team, my bike, and my iPhone.

Q: How did you get involved with the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular?
A: I got really, really lucky when I was looking for a new job. I went from working in a very corporate, unimaginative environment to this one. I can honestly say that I love what I do again.

Q: How has the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular changed since you started?
A: It has gotten bigger and better. Because of David Mugar, and the sense of community, you really feel every role is as important as the next. Despite the long hours it is surprisingly something I miss and look forward to every year.

Q: What effect has working on the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular had on you?
A: I have been very fortunate to be able to work with the folks that I do during the event. I have an appreciation of all the planning that goes into the event and also for the public safety people that help keep this event a fun, safe family oriented event. It is a lot of hard work but no one seems to mind. This includes all the people that come to the show. I can't imagine any other event or venue where so many people are packed into a small space that are so friendly and cordial to each other regardless of whether it is a 70 degree beautiful sunny day or cold and torrential downpours. I like to think that this event really represents America.

Q: What are some of the challenges you have had to overcome to make the event possible?
A: In what I do, every day presents a new challenge so it is hard to point to one. Plus, if you start talking about IT stuff everyone is going to just start yawning! The fun thing about challenges in this environment though is that you get to be creative about solutions. All I can say is there has been a lot of running around (literally) and I have had to use a good amount of duct tape, climbed trees, and other odd ball fixes to things.

Q: What are you thinking/feeling on the day of the show, after all of your preparation is done?
A: Phew!
 

Keith Lockhart became the twentieth conductor of the Boston Pops in 1995, adding his artistic vision to the Pops tradition established by his predecessors John Williams and Arthur Fiedler. During his 15-year tenure, he has conducted the Boston Pops in more than 1,200 concerts and introduced the innovative JazzFest and EdgeFest series, which feature the Pops performing with some of today's most prominent contemporary artists. His favorite event is the annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular! Keith Lockhart answers our questions:

Q: What goes through your mind 5 minutes before you take the stage on the 4th in front of such a large crowd at the Esplanade and an even bigger crowd watching on television?
A: On the 4th, before and during the performance, my mind is a continual checklist...what happens next? What do I have to say? Where do I have to go on stage? What happens if it rains?

Q: What is your typical day like?
A: One of the best things about my job is that it doesn't come with any typical days! During the spring Pops season, leading up to the Fourth, there are concerts most nights, and rehearsing, studying the next project, meeting with my staff, and a little bit of sleep fill up the rest. Oh, and with a 3-month old, a bit more diaper changing than usual....

Q: What piece of music have you heard over and over but still enjoy today?
A: "America, the Beautiful." It's our most moving patriotic song, and it gets me every time.

Q: What is currently playing on your iPod?
A: Toby Keith.

Q: If you were not a conductor, what would your occupation be?
A: I would be an author, hard at work on the Great American Novel. Maybe there's still time....

Q: What is your favorite hotspot in Boston?
A: Fenway Park.

Q: Who are your personal mentors?
A: Many. One in particular, though, was Erich Kunzel...the conductor, who up until last year, was at the center of the "other" big July 4th celebration, on the Mall in Washington, DC. Erich died last fall, and I owe him a lot...if it hadn't been for the opportunities he gave me, I probably wouldn't be conducting "America's Orchestra." This one's for you, Erich!
 

Superstar Toby Keith will perform on the BOSTON POPS FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR, an entertainment special to be broadcast live from the Charles River Esplanade in Boston, Sunday, July 4 (10:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. Craig Ferguson (CBS's "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson") will host the special for the fourth consecutive year.

Toby Keith will perform some of his biggest hits with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra under the direction of conductor Keith Lockhart.

The BOSTON POPS FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR, now in its 37th year, is the orchestra's annual free outdoor Fourth of July concert and is sponsored by Liberty Mutual Group, one of America's leading insurers, offering auto, home and life insurance for individuals and families, as well as a variety of insurance products and services for businesses. New for 2010, the entire concert will be broadcast in HD (high definition), courtesy of Liberty Mutual Group. In addition, the final 20 minutes of the broadcast, featuring the spectacular fireworks display, will be presented commercial-free by Liberty Mutual Group.

Toby Keith has been among the top musical performers in any genre throughout this past decade, and is ranked among the top-selling artists in all genres at #3 on Billboard's Top 200 Artists of the Decade. He was also named Billboard's #1 Country Artist of the Decade and #1 Country Songwriter of the Decade and was honored by Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), which awarded him its prestigious Songwriter/Artist of the Decade Award. He is a three-time BMI Country Artist/Songwriter of the Year with his catalog generating more than 65 million performances. Keith's business empire is as expansive as his hit making ability, encompassing restaurants, movies, and a clothing line. In 2009, his 15th studio album, American Ride, debuted at the top of the Country Albums chart. The title track and the second single from the album, "Cryin' For Me (Wayman's Song)," landed Keith two more consecutive #1 singles, the 27th and 28th chart toppers of his career. His previous album, the critically-acclaimed That Don't Make Me A Bad Guy, also boasts the back-to-back #1 hits "She Never Cried In Front Of Me" and "God Love Her." In the past decade alone, his singles have spent more than a year at #1 on the charts. His tours continue to be among the top-drawing concerts in the world of entertainment. In 2009, Keith's U.S. "America's Toughest Tour" played to more than a million people, marking the ninth consecutive year the hard-touring artist crossed the impressive million-ticket threshold. Overseas, Keith embarked on his first European tour in November, where he sold out a two-week run that included nine shows in six countries, and he performed in Norway at the 16th annual Nobel Peace Prize concert. On June 19, he kicks off his Ford Trucks-sponsored "American Ride Tour" that will take him across the United States throughout the summer.

Craig Ferguson joined the late-night television arena as host of CBS's "The Late Late Show" in January 2005, following a career that encompassed film, television and the stage. The Scottish-born actor, writer, director and producer, who is also known for his role as Nigel Wick on "The Drew Carey Show," brings a fresh approach to late-night television, which has quickly evolved into appointment television for America's nightly insomniacs. Each weeknight, the Peabody award-winning show, lead by Emmy-nominated Ferguson, entertains audiences with an exceptional, unscripted monologue and goes one-on-one with guests from the worlds of film, television, sports and news. Additionally, "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" continues to spotlight eclectic, edgy musical acts and rising stand-up comedians. "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" is broadcast weeknights (12:37-1:37 AM, ET/PT) following broadcasts of the "Late Show with David Letterman" on CBS (on the web: www.cbs.com/latenight/latelate). Ferguson was sworn in as a United States citizen in February 2008. In fall 2009, Ferguson released his memoir, American On Purpose, an achingly funny account of living the American dream as he journeyed from a small town in Scotland to the entertainment capital of the world. The book was listed on The New York Times bestseller list and released in paperback in April 2010.

Celebrating its 125th anniversary this spring, the Boston Pops has reached a landmark moment in a storied history that began with its founding in 1885. The Boston Pops Orchestra has distinguished itself as the founder of and leader in its genre, presenting the best of a wide variety of music from jazz to pop, indie rock to big band, film music to the great American songbook, and Broadway to classical. Though Arthur Fiedler's nearly 50-year tenure as Pops conductor (1930-1979) established the Boston Pops as a national icon, Conductor Laureate John Williams (1980-1993) and present-day conductor Keith Lockhart (1995-present) have shepherded the orchestra through three decades of tumultuous change in the world of music. The Boston Pops, "America's Orchestra," performs for an audience of nearly 900,000 people annually in Boston, across the country and around the world, and reaches millions more through its recordings and television broadcasts. For more information, visit www.bostonpops.org.

Boston 4 Productions (www.july4th.org) has produced this annual event for the past 37 years, for which approximately 800,000 people pack Boston's Charles River Esplanade. In addition, more than seven million people across the country and the globe join the Boston Pops through the annual televised broadcast, sponsored by Liberty Mutual Group.

The BOSTON POPS FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR broadcast and live event will be produced by Boston 4 Productions and White Cherry Entertainment, in collaboration with IMG Media. Boston 4 Productions' David G. Mugar is executive producer. Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner will produce the national telecast; Michael Mathis of IMG Media and Sheryl Bourisk for WBZ-TV will produce the local telecast seen on WBZ-TV Boston. Glenn Weiss will direct both the local and Network broadcasts.

Boston 4 Productions has teamed up with Silverscape, a Boston-based Digital Marketing firm, to design an interactive entertainment website that compliments and enhances the experience of the “Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular” on July 4th. The website seeks to create and sustain an engaged community of new fans for one of Boston's most beloved events throughout the entire year.

The new online experience offers a fun and interactive level of two-way communication between event guests and organizers, allowing for a greater opportunity to share in and learn from guests' favorite experiences.

As part of a larger social media outreach, the new site features opportunities for fans to participate. Visitors to the new site will be able to interact with the event via Facebook, and Twitter. This year, we have added an event blog, talking about all things July 4th. And for those that want to enjoy the 4th of July all year round, downloadable materials will also be available on the new site including desktop and iPhone wallpapers.

The new site will feature an interactive page where visitors can upload their own photos and/or videos and share their own personal experiences from the “Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular.”

The updated site will feature comprehensive information regarding this year's host, performance line-up, schedule, event logistics, and frequently asked questions. The site will also feature information on the rich history and heritage of the “Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular” event on July 4th and how it has become a national tradition.

Check us out at: www.july4th.org.

Does your city or town need funding to save its 4th of July event?

Nothing says Fourth of July like a neighborhood fireworks show or parade. But in recent years, many U.S. towns were forced to cancel their official Independence Day events, when funding ran short. Liberty Mutual would like to help.

From now until June 14th, Liberty Mutual is hosting a contest allowing towns across America to compete for $10,000 in Bring Back the 4th grants. Liberty Mutual is offering 10 grants total, divided between small, medium and large towns.

How can you earn a grant for your town? Visit www.bringbackthe4th.com to take a brief quiz on "Responsible Moments in U.S. History," focusing on people and events that helped shape our nation and inspire others. Each completed quiz counts as one credit towards a BringBackThe4th.com visitor's town, and credits are earned by quiz completion alone, not by quiz score.

The 10 U.S. towns that successfully encourage the highest quiz participation among their residents will be eligible to win $10,000 grants! Winners will be notified and announced during the week of June 14th.