Return Of Boston Pops Concert In August Approved By Select Board

The crowd will be smaller, security will be beefed up, and there won't be any fireworks going off after the show, but the Boston Pops on Nantucket – the largest event of the summer every year on the island – will be back at Jetties Beach in August after a two-year hiatus during the pandemic.

The Select Board on Wednesday voted unanimously to approve a public assembly permit for the event that had been requested by its sponsor and beneficiary, Nantucket Cottage Hospital. It was the final sign-off the hospital needed to move forward with the fundraiser. The vote comes after months of debate over the concert, including suggestions that it be moved out to Tom Nevers, in light of public safety concerns raised by the Nantucket Police and Fire Departments about the event.

"We've put a huge investment in safety and security planning," said Chris Glowacki, the hospital's vice president for strategy and community development. "It's a smaller event. Together, we've collectively put together something safe that will be a great event for the community."

That investment includes a total of 75 paid security staff in addition to at least 28 State Police Troopers who will be traveling to Nantucket from the mainland on the hospital's dime, as well as two contracted ambulances to take the pressure off the Nantucket Fire Department.

Back in February, hospital officials presented a revised plan to the Select Board that outlined a series of changes and concessions to address public safety concerns and allow the concert to return to the Jetties Beach.

The highlights of the hospital’s 40-page safety and security plan include:

• Maximum attendance set at 5,500 (a reduction of 1,000 tickets)
• No outside alcohol except for reserved seating and receptions served by TIPPS certified staff
• More security, including bag checks, provided by private security details and State Police Troopers
• No fireworks on the beach

The Select Board lauded the hospital for responding to the concerns of the town's public safety officials before voting unanimously Wednesday to issue the permit for the event. Select Board member Matt Fee, however, lamented that the changes were deemed necessary.

"I think the work you guys did is amazing," Fee said. "It sort of makes me sad the world we live in today though, where we have to think of shooters and bombs and that type of thing. It's just unfortunate that it can't be the way it used to be where we could trust each other and not worry about it. but I think you're doing the right thing by thinking about everything because it's Nantucket and it's different now."

The event was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, and last summer’s Pops concert was also nixed due to the town’s concern over its ability to adequately staff the concert.

Its future at Jetties Beach was in serious doubt following police chief Bill Pittman and fire chief Steve Murphy’s public criticism of the event late last year, but the hospital’s revised plan assuaged those concerns.

"I know there was a lot of pain in this in the beginning," said Amy Baxter, the town's licensing administrator. "It was never an attack on the event or saying it was a bad event, it was just having to deal with things and the concerns of public safety that we care a lot about. that's really where it came from. i know it was difficult in the beginning. But I appreciate all the work they've done and the collaboration. It's a model for how we move forward."

The 2022 Boston Pops on Nantucket event is being chaired by Bruce and Elisabeth Percelay, and will feature award-winning vocalist Marc Martel as the special musical guest. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the event, which generates millions for healthcare on the island as the hospital's primary summer fundraiser.

Martel is known for his performance as the voice of Freddie Mercury in the 2018 Oscar-winning film Bohemian Rhapsody, as well as being selected by some of the original members of the legendary rock band Queen to front their official tribute, The Queen Extravaganza.

The hospital also announced that Skyler Wright, who was raised on Nantucket and is now a recording artist and cast member of the hit TV show Dexter: New Blood, will sing the National Anthem.

General admission tickets go on sale next week.