With hundreds of thousands of people expected to pour into the Esplanade, here’s what you need to know going into the Boston Pops Firework Spectacular this 4th of July.

The event is free and open to the public at the Hatch Memorial Shell on the Charles River Esplanade from 7 to 10 p.m.

Start Time

The massive celebration is scheduled to begin one hour earlier this year than in previous years. The Oval directly in front of the Hatch Shell will open to the public at noon on July 4 for those looking to claim a spot early. The live concerts will kick off at 7 p.m., and the fireworks will begin earlier at about 9:40 p.m.

Performances

The show will feature Grammy-winning singer LeAnn Rhimes, Tony and Grammy-winning musician Leslie Odom Jr., trio Bell Biv DeVoe, the Soldiers’ Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band, and Boston Children’s Chorus, along with the Boston Pops Symphony Orchestra. Actress Paula Plum will be presenting.

Fireworks Show

The fireworks show is scheduled to last for about 20 minutes from 9:40 p.m. to 10 p.m., and will be visible from the Boston and Cambridge sides along the Charles River. Viewing is prohibited on the Longfellow and Massachusetts Ave. bridges. For those watching from the river, boats must meet certain requirements, including being anchored by 8:15 p.m., staying 100 feet from shore and remaining 1,000 feet from barges.

Watching Remotely

The event will be broadcast live locally from WHDH-TV Channel 7 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. A national broadcast on the CW Network will run from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Transportation

Officials strongly urge attendees to travel via public transportation or walking to the event due to congestion and road closures. The Esplanade may be accessed from Beacon Street via Berkeley, Clarendon, Dartmouth and Fairfield Streets, and Massachusetts Avenue. The closest T stops are Charles-MGH on the Red Line, and Arlington Street on the Green Line. The T will run a more frequent schedule on Friday and will be free after 8 p.m. across all modes.

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Esplanade Rules

During the celebration, no drones may be flown over the site. Prohibited items include alcohol, bikes, coolers on wheels, backpacks, weapons, glass containers and grills. You may bring in small pop-up tents or canopies with no sides, blankets/tarps up to 10 square feet, folding or beach chairs, and liquids in plastic containers.

More information can be found at bso.org/boston-pops-fireworks-spectacular.