Tanglewood prepares for James Taylor and the 4th of July

LENOX, Massachusetts – Tanglewood is gearing up for its Fourth of July concert and fireworks display, and people are already lining up to secure their spot on the lawn for James Taylor’s first show Wednesday.

For another James Taylor concert, visitors were queuing hours before the doors opened.

Debbie Lysik has followed his performances at Tanglewood for decades and is looking forward to another year with her family.

“We come every year. I’ve been coming here since I was 16 with one of my best friends in our VW Beetle, my husband and I are enthusiastic fans and we love it. This is the highlight of the summer for us,” said Lysik.

Taylor’s July 3^rd The concert is special because it marks the 50th anniversary of his first performance here. Tanglewood will honor him with the Tanglewood Medal.

“To say we are excited about James’ 50^th is probably an understatement. It is more a feeling of enormous gratitude and respect for his contribution,” said Anthony Fogg, vice president of artistic planning for the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Taylor’s Fourth of July show and fireworks will be the highlights of a busy holiday week at the popular Lenox venue.

“The energy in this place is fantastic on the Fourth of July. Aside from the evening show at 8 p.m. with James, we have lawn performances all day long. So it’s a great day for families and there’s plenty of food. So it’s really a wonderful place for this important celebration,” Fogg said.

For those who can’t make it to the show, Tanglewood promises a full summer of concerts, including performances by Beck with the Boston Pops and at Jurassic Park in Concert.