Fourth of July: Follow the fireworks in Boston, N.Y. and D.C.

Ready to visit some of the nation’s splashiest July 4 celebrations? As always, the best views of major events are often from the comfort of your couch. Besides, the bathrooms will be a lot cleaner (let’s hope).

Here’s a rundown of some of today’s national celebrations and when they will air:

Let’s start in Boston. One of the biggest shows of the evening will be the annual Boston Pops concert, broadcast on CBS and hosted by Grammy Award-winning singer Jennifer Hudson and Emmy Award-winner Michael Chiklis. They will be joined by the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, Keith Lockhardt and the group Dropkick Murphys, among others. The telecast starts at 10 p.m. in the East and will be replayed in Los Angeles at 10 p.m. Pacific time.

In New York, four barges on the Hudson River will be the launch points for a Macy’s July 4 fireworks celebration. Music stars Katy Perry and Kenny Chesney will host the show, which will appear at 9 p.m. Pacific time on NBC.

Starting at 8 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. Pacific), PBS will telecast the July 4 celebration in Washington, D.C., hosted by television personality Tom Bergeron. Look at this website for live streaming of the celebration.

Meanwhile, if you start to wonder how the pyrotechnic pros pull off their displays, check out this fireworks primer by the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

After looking over the diagram explaining burst patterns, you’ll be able to tell the difference between what the pros call an aerial peony and a chrysanthemum.

Have a blast.