"It's nice to eat a good hunk of beef," longtime Boston Pops conductor Arthur Fiedler once said, "but you want a light dessert, too." The Pops are the dessert to the BSO's beef. From early May to early July, tables and chairs replace the floor seats at Symphony Hall, and drinks and light refreshments are served. Under the direction of conductor Keith Lockhart, the Pops play a range of music from light classical to show tunes to popular (hence the name), often with celebrity guest stars of both the Broadway and Top 40 variety. Performances are Tuesday through Sunday evenings. Special holiday performances in December ($32-$118) usually sell out well in advance, but it can't hurt to check; tickets go on sale in late October. The regular season ends with two free outdoor concerts at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade along the Charles River. The traditional Fourth of July concert is a mob scene; the rehearsal the night before is merely very crowded. Both are great fun.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Boston 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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