Kickoff ceremony for 37th annual Boston Harborfest

Mayor Martin J. Walsh will kickoff the 37th annual Boston Harborfest at Faneuil Hall Marketplace. If it rains, the event will move inside to under the rotunda in Quincy Market. Residents, visitors, and businesses are invited to participate in the patriotic opening ceremony, which will feature United States Navy Band Northeast's Ceremonial Band and Rhode Island Sound. The event features patriotic music and the ceremonial cutting of the Harborfest cake.

Mayor Walsh, Captain Gelzer, Commander Shick, and special guests will use a cutglass (sword) to cut the cake, which is provided by Faneuil Hall Marketplace and created by Montilio's Baking Company. National Park Service Park Rangers and Freedom Trail players, dressed in 18th-century costume, will be on hand to offer historical information about Faneuil Hall and other sites along the Freedom Trail.

Boston Harborfest is a multi-day festival with activities celebrating American Independence, honoring the City's colonial roots and showcasing Boston's vibrant harbor. During the celebration to kick off the festival, Mayor Walsh will be joined by:

• Captain Claudia Gelzer, Captain of the Port of Boston, United States Coast Guard
• Commander Nathaniel Shick, 75th Commanding Officer, USS Constitution
• Pat Moscaritolo, President and Chief Executive Officer, Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Joe O'Malley, General Manager of Faneuil Hall Marketplace, and
• Harborfest partners

Held from June 28 through July 7, Harborfest celebrates the colonial and maritime heritage of America's independence in Boston. Over the years, Harborfest has grown from a local event to a national celebration. In 1982 there were 35 activities over the course of three days. Now in its 37th year, Harborfest is considered to be the country's largest Fourth of July festival with hundreds of activities over a week-long period at Boston's best landmarks.

The family-friendly event includes this annual opening ceremony at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, historical reenactments, Freedom Trail tours, historic sites' programs and events, activities along Boston Harbor, live entertainment, and much more.  An evening concert on Saturday, June 30, features the Squeezebox Stompers and Sweet Harmony. This leads up to a 9 p.m. fireworks show presented by Friends of Christopher Columbus Park, Boston Harbor Now, and the Wharf District Council. Harborfest will also feature events at Christopher Columbus Park on Sunday, July 1. This includes Arts at Harborfest, curated by Artists Crossing, and Chowderfest, where attendees may vote on the best creations from local restaurants. On July 4, the annual City of Boston Independence Day Commemoration takes place. The event includes a flag raising ceremony and parade that begins at 9 a.m. on City Hall Plaza.