Esplanade event 'the best thing ever'

Show climaxes day of pomp, circumstance, pride, and citizenship

Yuny Castro and Sarah Inam became citizens. (Essdras m suarez/globe staff)

For 23 minutes last night, it seemed as though everyone in the city looked in the same direction - skyward - as bold green, peach, and yellow bursts sparkled against the darkness. Willows of white light arched gracefully through the air before fading away. Yellow and white rockets soared through the air by the dozens, brightening the sky and filling the air with smoke and electrifying staccatto explosions.

It was a dramatic ending to a gloomy, rain-splattered day that brought more than 500,000 spectators to the banks of the Charles River to witness a fireworks and musical spectacle that has evolved into a national celebration of American independence. Modern-day patriots stabbed plastic flags into the Hatch Shell lawn, painted their faces red, white, and blue, and wore foam Statue of Liberty crowns while waiting patiently for the show to start.

As the music swelled and the sky lit up around her, Deanna Skowronsky, 20, of Detroit stood wide-eyed.

"I'm awestruck right now," she said. "I've never seen [a] Fourth of July of this magnitude. . . . My patriotism went through the roof."

While thousands camped on the Hatch Shell lawn yesterday waiting for the cannon bursts of the 1812 Overture and the fireworks, others celebrated the more historic side of the day. There was a flag raised and an Independence Day parade from City Hall, a sailing of the USS Constitution, and recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance at the Old State House. As the clouds cleared, the number of spectators lining the Charles River in Boston, Cambridge, and along the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge appeared to grow.

Shortly after sunset, Rascal Flatts took the stage at the Hatch Shell. And then came the main attraction, the Boston Pops, who played wildly disparate selections, including the national anthem, the theme from "Rocky," and - of course - "Yankee Doodle Dandy." People removed their caps and waved flags as the setting sun turned the sky purplish pink. After dark, the concert and fireworks show was televised nationally and as many as 8 million people were expected to watch.

"It's a Boston institution and a national institution," said Steve MacDonald, one of the event's organizers. "And it's a massive undertaking."

The show is organized by Boston 4 Celebrations, a private nonprofit that received sponsorship from Liberty Mutual insurance company.

More than 50 public agencies were also involved in the event's coordination, MacDonald said. A crew of 10 people took days to prepare the launching of 16,000 pounds of explosives from barges on the Charles.

And at 10:35 last night, the show began, dazzling pilgrims who had traveled from across New England and beyond to celebrate the day in the land of Adams and Hancock.

Officials said more than one-third of the crowd was from outside Massachusetts.

"I don't know how we're going to top this next year," said Wendy Lee, of Gilmanton, N.H., who woke up at 4:45 a.m. yesterday to drive to Boston with her boyfriend.

Pat Alibrandi, 78, came with friends from Florida to watch the show for the sixth time.

"I think it's a classic. It's part of American heritage," he said. "We look forward to coming here many years in the future."

Kimberly and Christopher Spampinato drove from Wells, Maine, yesterday to walk the Freedom Trail dressed in their Revolutionary War-era costumes.

It has become their tradition. Chris wore white knee breeches and a blue linen vest and carried a wooden canteen and a sack for his belongings. Kimberly wore a tightly-drawn bodice, long skirt, stockings, and garters.

"This is where it all started," Kimberly said.

Christopher, 38, said he's been a Revolutionary War reenactor since 1995 and got his wife involved more recently.

"I'm showing her all the reasons she should be thankful for living in this great nation," he said.

Kathryn and Matthew Schwent of Kansas City celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary on the Esplanade yesterday.

Kathryn planned the trip as a surprise, buying her husband tickets to a Red Sox game as well.

The couple arrived at the Esplanade with their portable Walgreens chairs at 8:30 a.m. They found a spot on the already-crowded lawn, but it wasn't very good, with practically no view of the stage.

Matthew Schwent said it made no difference.

"Anytime I can see fireworks," he said, "it's the best thing ever."

Luminaries also converged on the city. Martin Scorsese sat in the Pops' VIP section, as did Michael Chiklis, star of "The Shield," and conductor Keith Lockhart's wife, Emiley.

And there were many locals mixed in, some making the trek for the first time.

"I can cross it off the list of things to do before I die," said Kerry Walsh, of Braintree, who was wearing a headband with antennae that looked like fireworks. "It's actually my favorite holiday."

Others have made a visit to the Esplanade a Fourth of July ritual, one to be passed on for generations.

Larry White, 38, of Quincy, has been coming to the Esplanade for the fireworks for 20 years, but yesterday was the first time he brought his daughter Elyza, 4. They found a spot on the grass by the water and looked skyward as the first rockets exploded.

"It's America. You know what I mean, it's what we're all about," White said. "The fireworks are nice, the music is nice, but what it's really about is America."

Tania deLuzuriaga of the Globe Staff and Globe correspondents Jonnelle Marte and Ryan Kost contributed to this report.