The annual Pops on the Heights: the Barbara and Jim Cleary Scholarship Gala is a celebrated tradition at Boston College. Featuring a spectacular lineup of musical performances and so much more, Pops on the Heights embodies the shared sense of purpose that defines scholarship support at Boston College and that shapes the future of hundreds of Eagles each year. 

Thanks to the generosity of so many, Boston College remains need blind in admissions and able to meet the full demonstrated need of undergraduate applicants—Eagles who want to use their talents in the service of others.

Since 1993, Pops on the Heights has taken place in Conte Forum—home of BC basketball and hockey—during BC’s Family Weekend. The gala has raised more than $145 million for financial aid, helping more than 3,700 students pursue their dream of a BC education.

Deeply passionate about philanthropy, higher education, and the arts, the late Barbara and James F. Cleary ’50, H’93, founded the annual Pops on the Heights scholarship gala in 1993. Jim—a BC Trustee and founder of the Fides and President’s Circle annual giving societies—and Barbara worked tirelessly to help grow the event to become the University’s largest annual fundraiser. Today, Jim and Barbara’s children (Kara ’84, MA’91; Kristin ’89, JD’93; and Jim Jr.) continue their legacy as Pops benefactors.

1. Go to https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/tix/1/profile.
2. Type your email address into the box where it is requested. Upon entering your email, if the system sees no matching customer record, you will see a “Continue” button; clicking on that will take you to the Account Creation process.
3. Fill out the fields provided to create an account.
4. No further action is needed, please remember your registered email and password for the day of ticket sales.

We recommend creating a tix.com account in advance to avoid delays at time of purchase.

1. Go to https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/tix/1/profile.
2. Enter the email you used for your Tix.com account into the “Enter your email address” bar. 
3. If it is the correct email you used last year, you will be prompted to enter your password.
4. Click “Forget Password” to send a password reset email to your email address. 
5. Click the link in the password reset email and create a new password.

We recommend confirming that you can access your existing tix.com account in advance to avoid delays at time of purchase.

A portion of the ticket price is a donation to student scholarship and therefore tax-deductible. Please see below:

Boston College will send tax receipts within four weeks after your ticket order is placed. Most donor-advised funds and many private foundations state that as a condition of their gift, no benefit can accrue to the person recommending the gift.

Your order confirmation email will be sent by orders@tix.com, not a bc.edu email address, so it may be in your spam/promotions folder.

Yes. Your confirmation email will have an option to download your e-tickets. After the download is complete, you may print them and bring them to the event.

There are no refunds on tickets. Pops on the Heights is an important philanthropic event which funds need-based student scholarships. If you are no longer able to attend and would like to convert your ticket purchase to a tax-deductible donation, please contact pops@bc.edu by September 20, 2024.

Yes, BC students who choose to attend are required to purchase full-price tickets. We are not able to add additional tickets to your seat location once the purchase is complete.

Boston College does not endorse or condone the reselling of tickets. Please be very cautious if someone offers to sell you a ticket. It may be an unauthorized copy.

Yes. You may print tickets and give them to someone you know or send them a mobile version. Please note that the unique bar code on each ticket allows only one entry per ticket to the event. The first copy of an e-ticket to arrive at the event will gain entry after scanning and validation. Other copies of the ticket will be denied entry.

Yes, we have a limited number of wheelchair accessible and companion seats available. For more information, please call the Pops on the Heights ticket office at 1-800-767-5591 with any questions. ADA parking is available with a state-issued disability license plate or disability placard.

Free on-campus parking is available in the Commonwealth Avenue Garage, as well as on the Newton campus. Shuttle buses will provide transportation to and from the Newton campus. 

During Family Weekend and the Pops on the Heights event, Boston College welcomes more than 2,000 families to campus. Please allow extra time for arrival and departure.

Conte Forum will be open to ticketholders starting at 6 p.m. You must have a ticket to enter. There will be pre-show performances on stage beginning at 6:45 p.m. The official program begins at 8 p.m. It ends at approximately 10 p.m. 

Ticketholders can expect a gourmet picnic-style dinner with a hearty sandwich and dessert at their seat when they arrive. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are available by exchanging your meal at the Pops on the Heights box office or our information tables located on the concourse at each entrance. Complimentary bottled water is available in coolers stationed along the walkway. Bars serving complimentary beer, wine, and soda are located on the concourse and open at 6 p.m. and close promptly at 7:45 p.m. The bars will reopen during intermission.

Pops on the Heights is a business casual event, however many attendees choose to dress in business attire and cocktail dresses. Jackets and ties are optional.

Many DAFs have specific guidelines regarding grants to support charitable events such as Pops on the Heights. Please consult your fund’s custodian should you have any questions.

Each table benefactor is allotted one VIP parking spot in the lot next to the Connell Recreation Center, which can be accessed via the Commonwealth Avenue entrance to campus with the appropriate parking pass.

For table guests, each table benefactor will receive parking passes for the Beacon Street Garage, which can be accessed via the Beacon Street entrance to campus. The parking pass is required for entry.

The VIP reception begins at 6 p.m. and is located at Alumni Stadium, Gate D. Guests will be asked to move from the reception to their table in Conte Forum at 7:30 p.m.

Pre-show performances begin on stage at 6:45 p.m., before the official program. The Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra will begin playing at 8 p.m. and will finish around 10 p.m.

Tickets and parking passes for you and all of your guests will be sent to you via FedEx the week before the event. If you have a special mailing request, please contact us at pops@bc.edu.

While there is no dress code for the event, we suggest festive business or cocktail attire.

BC Dining serves an award-winning picnic-style dinner at your table. Prior to the concert there will be plenty of tasty hors d’oeuvres at the VIP reception. Please notify your server of any dietary restrictions.

Full bars in the VIP reception area open at 6 p.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. The two bars on either side of the Conte Forum floor and the Mezzanine bars are open from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. and during intermission. Each table has complimentary bottles of red and white wine.

For more information, visit bc.edu/popstables.