July 3, 2009 Neil Diamond warms up for 4th of July on Esplanade Play video

(NECN: Greg Wayland, Boston, Mass.) - Friday morning was preparation time at the Hatch Shell for the 4th of July celebration.

Neil Diamond will headline the annual Boston Pops celebration on the Esplanade Saturday night, hosted by CBS' Late Late Show.

The Grammy Award winner arrived in Boston just in time for Friday morning's sound check.

The singer was delayed getting into New England Friday night due to the bad weather.

"Boston is the greatest," Diamond said on Friday. "What better time of year to be here? The orchestra is fantastic, they're all tuned up. We're going to have a ball."

An estimated 500,000 people were expected to line the banks of the Charles River for Saturday's concert and fireworks display -- rain or shine.

Gates open at 6 a.m., for those planning to try to score a spot on the coveted lawn.