Ann Babbitt from the Friends of Christopher Columbus Park came to the North End Waterfront Neighborhood Council meeting on June 12th, 2017 to talk about Summer Events at the park, along with information about fireworks on the harbor.
This New Years Eve, there will be a fireworks display in the Boston Harbor! Joanne Hayes-Rines, the President of Friends of Christopher Columbus Park, raised enough money for one barge to launch fireworks on December 31st to ring in 2018 with a show. Donating business from Boston include: NorthEndBoston.com, Marriott Long Wharf, Boston Harbor Hotel, Harborside Inn, and The Living Room. So far, the Friends have raised $40,000 for one barge, but their ultimate goal is to raise double that amount, $80,000, for two barges on the Boston Harbor.
Summer Events
- During the month of June, there were a couple events in the park. For the first time since 2000, the Grand Parade of Sail, part of Sail Boston, made its way through Boston Harbor. Tall Ships from all over the world came to Boston on June 17th. See our full coverage on Sail Boston.
- The Opera Project by North End Music Performing Arts Center (NEMPAC) had its 6th opera this Summer performing “Fidelio.” After performing three fully staged performances at Faneuil Hall, the cast offered a free community performance at Christopher Columbus Park on Sunday, June 25th at 4:00 p.m.
- On Saturday, July 1st, The Friends of Christopher Columbus Park will be having their Independence Day Celebration from 12 PM to 4 PM. There will be free activities for kids with a magician, bubble guy, and more. Also on July 1st is Harbor Fest. There will be activities all day in the park.
- Every Saturday starting July 8th, the park will have free lawn games on the West Lawn. Corn hole, croquet, giant chess, and other games will be available to the public from 12 PM to 4 PM. The games will be available until August 26th.
- Beginning on July 12th, croquet will also be offered every Wednesday evening from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Croquet will also be free and open to the public. Wednesday evening croquet ends on August 30th.
- Beginning on Sunday, July 16th, The Friends of Christopher Columbus Park will be screening free movies in the park at sunset.
- On July 20th, there will be a dance party in the park.
This year, the Friends’ budget is $85,500. Babbitt stated, “77% of which will pay for the free events, horticultural, and the trellis lighting.”
For full coverage, see the video above.
Formed in 2001 by Mayor Thomas Menino, the Friends of Christopher Columbus Park is a volunteer group with around 300 dedicated members taking care of the park and offering free events for the public. They meet every second Tuesday of the month in the Mariners Building in North Square at 6:30 PM. More information on The Friends of Christopher Columbus Park.
