LENOX, Mass. — Tanglewood is getting ready for their Fourth of July concert and fireworks and people already started lining up for their spot on the lawn for James Taylor’s first show Wednesday.

What You Need To Know

  • Tanglewood is getting ready for their Fourth of July celebrations.

  • James Taylor performs July 3-4 and people were already waiting to get on the lawn.

  • Taylor will be receiving the Tanglewood medal after 50 years.

  • There are many other concerts to attend at Tanglewood this summer.

Visitors were lining up hours before the gates open for another James Taylor concert.

Debbie Lysik has watched him perform at Tanglewood for decades and is excited for another year with her family.

“We come every year. I’ve been coming since I was 16 years old with one of my best friends in our VW Bug, and my husband and I are followers and we love it. This is our highlight of the summer,” said Lysik.

Taylor's July 3rd concert is a special one because it will mark 50 years since he first played here. Tanglewood will be honoring him with the Tanglewood medal.

“To say that were excited about James’ 50th is probably an understatement. It’s more a sense of enormous gratitude and respect for what he’s contributed,” said Anthony Fogg, vice president of artistic planning for the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Taylor’s show on the Fourth of July and fireworks will highlight the holiday week, which will be busy at the popular Lenox venue.  

“The energy around this place on Fourth of July is fantastic. Apart from the performance in the evening at 8 p.m. with James, we have lawn acts throughout the day, so it’s a great day for families to come and plenty of food to eat, so it’s really a wonderful place to be for this important celebration,” Fogg said.

For those that can’t make the show, Tanglewood says they have a full summer of concerts, including Beck performing with the Boston Pops and Jurassic Park in Concert.