Page 39 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Boston

BOST ON THROUGH THE Y EAR  37

Average Daily Hours of Sunshine
Sunshine Chart
Hours Boston enjoys long and
10 light summer days from
June to August, with
8
July being the sunniest
6 month. Fall has more
sunshine than spring,
4 but while spring is mild,
fall becomes quite
2 chilly. Winter days are
shorter, but many are
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec still clear and bright.
Summer
When summer’s heat finally
arrives, Bostonians head
outdoors to relax on the grassy
banks of the Charles River, along
the harbor, and in the city’s
many parks. The Hatch Shell
on the Esplanade becomes
the scene of many free open-
air concerts. The grandest
celebration occurs on the
Fourth of July, with one of the
country’s greatest fireworks
displays, following an invariably Fourth of July fireworks lighting up the sky over the Charles River
rousing performance by the
Boston Pops Orchestra. parade and festival caps a Annual Festival Betances
week of celebrating diversity. (mid-Jul), South End. Annual
Bunker Hill Weekend (weekend Puerto Rican festival with
before Jun 17), Charlestown. music, dance, and food.
Costumed re enactments,
demonstrations, a parade, August
and guided tours at Bunker August Moon Festival (mid-
Hill Monument. Aug), Chinatown. Lion dance,
Dragon Boat Festival (mid- martial arts, Chinese opera.
Jun), Charles River. Traditional Dine Out Boston (late Mar
Asian dragon boat races. and late Aug), Boston and
Cambridge. Around 200
July restaurants offer low fixed-
Italian Feast Days price lunch and dinner menus.
(Jul–Aug), North End. Religious Boston Caribbean
Summer outdoor concert at Hatch Shell, processions with music Carnival (late Aug), Franklin
Charles River Esplanade and food take place almost Park. Extravagant costumes,
every weekend. music, food, and dancing.
June Boston Harborfest (week
Performing Arts Series of Jul 4). Features children’s
at the Hatch Shell (Jun–Sep), events, concerts, harbor
Hatch Shell, Esplanade. Free cruises, and a Chowder-
outdoor movies, and pop, fest on City Hall Plaza.
rock, and classical concerts. Boston Pops Annual
Cambridge River Festival Fourth of July Concert
(early Jun). Multicultural and Fireworks (Jul 4),
festival on the banks of the Esplanade. The largest of
Charles River. the free Boston Pops
Scooper Bowl (early Jun), City concerts in July.
Hall Plaza. One of the largest Bastille Day (Fri before
ice cream festivals in the U.S. Jul 14), Back Bay. Annual
Boston Pride (mid-Jun). New celebration sponsored by
England’s largest gay pride the French Cultural Center. July 4th parade, Government Center

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