This is a group of boats on the Charles River, waiting for the festivities to begin.

You can see a few more pics after the jump.

This is the skyline of Boston’s Back Bay from the Longfellow Bridge. You can see the classic green wrought iron railing in the foreground.

This photo looks across the Longfellow Bridge towards the Cambridge side of the Charles River. Look at the cotton candy sky. Beautiful.

Finally, a crowd gathers on the Boston side of the Longfellow Bridge with downtown in the background.

Happy 4th of July, everyone!

In the video below, Jay Leno asks random people some very basic questions about the 4th of July. The responses are stunning.

Hat Tip to Charles at LBOTC.

BOSTON—Country music star Toby Keith will celebrate Independence Day with the Boston Pops.

Liberty Mutual, the event’s sponsor, announced Wednesday that Keith will join conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops for the annual Fourth of July concert and fireworks show on the banks of the Charles River.

The 40-year-old singer-songwriter’s hits include “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like This, and “Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue.”

On an unrelated note…

Charles predicts that a woman will be president in 2016 but he says it won’t be Hillary Clinton or Sarah Palin.

Hmmmm…..

“The withering heat kept away early crowds, but as many as 35,000 eventually showed for the speeches, music and night-time fireworks, organizers said.”

“I was standing on the stage and couldn’t see the end of the people,” said Debbie Meyers, president of the event-planning business Bravo Entertainment.”

For anyone who still thinks the Tea Party movement is a secret arm of the GOP, chew on this…

“Republican Sen. John Cornyn was booed at the start and close of his remarks assailing federal spending and taxes, the Austin paper reported.”

“Many shouts concerned Cornyn voting last year for the federal bailout of Wall Street approved by Congress, the Troubled Asset Relief Program.”

“You’re the problem!” one crowd member hollered. “You voted for TARP,” yelled another, probably referring to the Troubled Asset Relief Program.”

It’s also interesting to note that Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit is running a poll today which asks some interesting questions about Sarah Palin and the Tea Party party. Be sure to check it out and vote.

You can see a full roundup of reports on July 4th Tea Parties from all over the country by CLICKING HERE.

Lots of pictures and video HERE TOO.