BOSTON -- The annual Pops Goes The Fourth concert will take on a different tone this year, as patriotism takes center stage.

POPs Goes The Fourth Boston's Fourth Of July Evening Performers Practicalities General Event Information Using Public Transportation On The Fourth Parking And Road Closures On The Fourth Restrictions For The Hatch Shell Area Boating Restrictions Map Check The Forecast Holiday Hints Proper Way To Display Flag Holiday Time For Grilling, Picnics

Video

Watch Gail Huff's Report

NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that the Fourth of July celebration on the Esplanade will pay tribute to the victims of Sept. 11. The concert, which attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators each year and millions more on television, will go on under increased security.

"I know ever since [Sept. 11], it's been in everybody's mind in the planning stages of the event, and I'm confident that what they've done will give us a very safe and secure environment, and people will be able to feel free to come out there and have a good time," Pops conductor Keith Lockhart said.

The music will take on a more reverent tone this year, as opposed to pop-focused shows of some past years.

"We will be paying tribute to the heroes and the victims of Sept. 11 and just in general to the renewed spirit of patriotism and looking at the great blessings we have simply by the fact of being able to live in this country," Lockhart said.

Kicking off the 8 p.m. concert will be Miss America Katie Marie Harman singing the national anthem.

"Miss America is very symbolic of this country in a very old-fashioned sort of way," Lockhart said.

Barry Manilow will sing "Let Freedom Ring," a work he performed with the Pops at Super Bowl XXXVI. Vocalist Maureen McGovern, who performed a July 4 concert in Boston more than a decade ago, will return to help celebrate the centennial of Broadway composer Richard Rodgers.

"She's an amazingly talented vocalist across a broad spectrum," Lockhart said.

Lockhart said the annual patriotic sing along will bring him and crowd closest to the spirit of the holiday.

"We've rethought a lot of the things that we took for granted that we were informal and casual about prior to last September," Lockhart said.

With the differences this year, two things will not change: closing with the "1812 Overture" and the fireworks display over the Charles River.

Pops Goes The Fourth can be seen on WCVB-Channel 5 on July 4, beginning at 7:30 p.m.