Procession kicks off from Boston City Hall Plaza at 9 a.m. and meanders to the Old State House for the annual reading of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

Holiday revelers say there’s no other place they’d rather be to celebrate America’s 249th birthday than Boston, coming out early and often for Fourth of July festivities.

In July 4, 1777 the Sons of Liberty set fireworks off over Boston Common to celebrate one year anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Philadelphia also set off fireworks that evening, and from there it grew into the celebrations we know today.