Massachusetts: This 4th Of July Weekend Has Major Unique Events Around The State

It's perfectly understandable if you are heading out of town this July 4th. However, if you are staying local, this year, the 4th of July weekend in Massachusetts contains a great deal of exciting events to be aware of.

Again, much of this may have to do with how the calendar falls this leap year, and the opportunity to leverage a few days off around the holiday. It appears many major entertainment and sports organizations recognized this and will be holding epic events in the area.

Cape Cod is expected to be a popular destination as always this 4th. The good news here is that if you are at the Cape, you can still realistically get to one of these happening events.

Let's start off with a little celebratory music and the concert scene. Marshfield is the spot that has the biggest three-day event.

Levitate Music and Arts Festival

In Marshfield at the fairgrounds, the 11th rendition of the Levitate Festival is taking place from Friday through Sunday, July 5 to 7. This year, the major headliner is on night three: Sublime with Jacob Nowell, (the son of Bradley Nowell, the band's late frontman), and the rest of the original members. The other headliners include Lake Street Dive (Saturday) and Mt. Joy (Friday).

Also playing over the course of the three days are artists such as Dirty Heads, Oliver Anthony, and G. Love and Special Sauce. This south shore town has served as the groundswell of this festival, as Levitate has their original surf shop (that re-opened in 2003) right up the street. Now, their music scene brings together great local musicians like the Elovaters and international acts like Tash Sultana and Ziggy Alberts, who are from Australia and are also part of the 2024 festival lineup.

You can learn more about the Levitate Festival, buy tickets, and see the daily lineup, food vendors, and artists onsite here.

The Premier Lacrosse League

Then, if you travel about 35 miles north, you can check out professional lacrosse in Cambridge. The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) will take over Harvard Stadium. This, too, is on July 5 and July 6.

If you are unfamiliar, the PLL is the highest level of lacrosse in the country, and this season is the first where the eight teams have been assigned a city. So, this essentially is the official return of the Boston Cannons.

"We’ll be back in Boston for our Homecoming Weekend on July 5-6 at Harvard Stadium. We are hosting back-to-back home games against the Philadelphia Waterdogs and California Redwoods – and we know you’ll be there supporting us," the Cannons' star player and attackman Marcus Holman said in a letter sent out to fans. These games are scheduled for 6 PM and 7 PM on their respective days.

Boston Fireworks

Of course, if you are staying in the city, this is the can't-miss event that is regularly scheduled. Boston Discovery Guide says, "The Boston Pops free July 4th 2024 Concert and Fireworks Spectacular, America's best Independence Day celebration, attracts more than a million spectators who gather on July 4 along the banks of the Charles River to listen to the rousing music."

As usual, this fan-favorite event takes place at Hatch Shell on the Esplanade. The concert is set to start at 8 PM. Joining the Pops Orchestra this year are a few special guests. They include En Vogue, Mandy Gonzalez, and LOCASH. The fireworks are then from 10:30 PM to approximately 11 PM.

The Premier Lacrosse League just wrapped up their quarterfinal playoffs weekend at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. While sitting in the second row of section 107 on Labor Day, I thought of four reasons why the PLL will continue to popularize professional lacrosse in America. The final game saw the Cannons defeating the Atlas. You may remember the Cannons from when they were the "Boston Cannons" in Major League Lacrosse.

The Cannons are the only PLL club that migrated over from the MLL.  This merger occurred in late 2020. PLL Co-Founder Paul Rabil (who is the most well-known lacrosse name in the country) was a Cannons player from 2008 – 2014. He also finished his career in the PLL, playing for one year on the Cannons.

Now, the PLL is winding down its fifth season. They have a mainstream distribution partnership with ESPN. Champion makes their popular merchandise. Furthermore, they are focusing on the little things each year to make the necessary steps to grow the sport.

I attended a few different PLL events last season. While my kids and I certainly enjoyed the experience, I was surprised that the league did not leverage the popularity of local youth programs in each state. This year, my son's club program was quickly offered the opportunity to attend the playoff round via a group rate. Upon roaming the stadium, I noticed many of his club-mates as they all opted to wear their team shorts or shirt. This is a simple (but super-impactful) win. In addition, the PLL offered a clinic prior to the playoff games, where three players from there pro teams would come out and teach kids for an hour. They would conclude the session by signing autographs and taking pictures. Resonating with the youth of today will be key to bringing the sport to a wider fanbase in the decades to come.

Let's be clear on something, these are the best lacrosse players in the country. Most of them were drafted into this professional league straight out of major division one college programs. After every game, kids swarm down the ailes and into the front rows of the stadium. The players then make their way over and sign as many autographs as possible. Given this past weekend was the playoffs, many players on the losing team also gave away their gear. Jerseys and gloves were thrown into the stands. Some players went as far as signing their sticks or stick heads, and then giving it to one lucky fan. These are memorable moments (and memorabilia items) every young sports fan cherishes forever.

There are eight different teams in the PLL. Each of them is uniquely branded and named. In addition, they each have engaging color schemes and logos that get frequent updates. From the retro jersey games, to the alternate uniforms, the Premier Lacrosse League has done an excellent job keeping their merch interesting - and collectible. You can customize the jersey you buy or select your favorite player to support. Of the eight teams, none of their nicknames are seen in any other professional sport. You can order it via their website or at pick it up at the merch booths at games.

Sure, a nail-biter of a game is preferred, but even a blowout features constant can't miss plays. On Labor Day, Wes Berg of the Redwoods hit a no-look, behind the back goal that was simply jaw-dropping. In youth lacrosse, the male players wear helmets, elbow pads, gloves, and a chest protector. At the pro level, the chest protector is typically eliminated from the gear, making the way these athletes control their bodies even more impressive. The competition is fierce, and you are quickly reminded that you are witnessing professional athletes mastering their craft.

The league clearly has a multi-year plan. You can see them following a "trust the process" philosophy at its working. Each season you see improved little things that make a big difference. For example, the tailgating fan zone was a lacrosse players dream this year. Gear was on display, dunk tanks, and partners demonstrated the latest technology the sport has to offer. The next phase of the PLL is that they will assign home cities to each of the eight teams next season. Although, they will continue the traveling tour model (for now) the anticipation is building as to which cities in the country will be awarded a pro team. A fan vote will help determine which of the 26 finalists will be the home cities. This should then generate an entirely new opportunity to launch more gear.