BRATTLEBORO — The “By the People: Brattleboro Goes Fourth” citizens committee invites the public to the town’s 43rd annual Independence Day celebration, set for Monday, July 4, with a morning parade downtown and afternoon and evening program of family activities and fireworks at Living Memorial Park.
Some 50 marching units — including the Brattleboro American Legion and Brattleboro Union High School bands, veterans, civic and youth groups — will kick off the festivities at 10 a.m. with a parade along Canal and Main streets to the town Common.
Brattleboro’s Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, which is sponsoring the parade for a second year, will lead the march with its giant American flag, while local personality Alfred Hughes Jr. will conclude the event by debuting his annual top-secret ensemble.
BCTV will air the parade live on local cable television channel 8 and online at brattleborotv.org, with commentary by longtime broadcasters Tim Johnson and Larry Smith.
After, the town Recreation & Parks Department will offer a series of public concerts, sporting events and family activities at Living Memorial Park — just off Western Avenue and Interstate 91 Exit 2 — from 2 p.m. to the start of fireworks (by Northstar, a Vermont-owned company) at 9:30 p.m.
Highlights include a New England Center for Circus Arts performance at 5:45 p.m., children’s concert by Vic and Sticks at 6:30 p.m., and the Wyld Nightz Band playing classic rock and roll at 7 p.m.
All programs are free thanks to citizen, civic and corporate donations, including major supporters at the Brattleboro Brewers Festival, Brattleboro Reformer, C&S Wholesale Grocers, G.S. Precision Inc., Holstein Association, The Richards Group and Sovernet Communications.
The event also is supported by fireworks fundraising partner Brattleboro Savings & Loan and sponsors at the American Legion Brattleboro Post 5, Brown and Roberts Hardware, Dead River Company, Mondo Mediaworks, Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters and Vermont Country Deli.
More information is available by logging onto the Brattleboro Goes Fourth Facebook page, www.facebook.com/BrattleboroGoesFourth, or by emailing brattleborogoesfourth@gmail.com.
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“BY THE PEOPLE: BRATTLEBORO GOES FOURTH” SCHEDULE
Monday, July 4, 2016
9:30 a.m.: Bill Powers Memorial Firecracker 4-Miler. For more information, log onto https://runsignup.com/Race/VT/Brattleboro/BillPowersMemorialFirecracker4Miler
DOWNTOWN:
10 a.m.: Parade, Canal to Main Street to Common (children can decorate bikes at 9 a.m. at Vermont Inn Pizza on 228 Canal St.)
LIVING MEMORIAL PARK:
2-9:30 p.m.: Food and family activities
2-3:30 p.m.: Children’s penny carnival with face painting and games
2:30 p.m.: Small Fry baseball all-star game
3 p.m.: Swim races
5:45 p.m.: New England Center for Circus Arts performance. For more, log onto necenterforcircusarts.org
6:30 p.m.: Children’s concert by Vic and Sticks. For more, log onto www.vicandsticks.com
7-9:30 p.m.: Wyld Nightz Band playing classic rock and roll. For more, log onto www.wyldnightzband.com
9:30 p.m.: Fireworks by Northstar, a Vermont-owned company based in Montpelier
Thanks for a great 4th
We just got back from fireworks concluding a full day of Independence Day fun. Our out of town guests enjoyed the parade and so did we from a shady spot under the tree at the Library. Esp enjoyed SIT democracy thing and of course Alfred (red gown with diamond jewel netting down the back.)
Got in a swim at the West River where we sipped pink lemonade while watching young men play frisbee game in which a canned beverage was knocked from a stick — highly entertaining. Water was pretty warm. Then a cookout in the driveway with grilled burgers and native sweet corn. And finally big fireworks at Living Memorial Park. There were some new multi colored ones that I really liked, and some HUGE floaty ones that were impressive to say the least. Loads of kids running around and long lines for fried dough.
Car drivers not always understanding of fireworks pedestrians heading home, which was too bad. But we processed down Western Ave with the crowd and got home safely in the beautiful dark of an early summer night.
Thanks to all who made this possible and esp Kevin and Tim O’Connor who seemed to be everywhere today. It was a memorably great Fourth of July.
11 Minutes?
I’m not complaining, because I didn’t donate, but couldn’t help but notice how quick they were over. Started at 9:30, ended at 9:41, and the finale was about 30 seconds. What happened? Did the new fireworks provider drop the ball, or did nobody else donate this year?
You Need to Ask?
You must be new to the area. You see, we used to have a very community minded employer here called Entergy. They donated thousands to local non profits and community events like the fireworks and such. But most local folks, many “trustifarians”, hated them and did everything in their power to get them out of here. So, they left, and now you’re seeing the results of a failed local economy.
I’m sure we’ll get used to a dwindling 4th of July celebration.
I thought the fireworks were
I thought the fireworks were great. Sat right under them, close enough for a couple of embers to float down nearby. I judge on quality and variety more than quantity, and this year was as good as any recent show I recall. The debut of a few new styles is always nice, too. This year we got the ones that exploded out a rainbow of colored balls into a circular shape.
I like the crowd watching from the hill, watching the glow sticks fly, the cover band fans dance, the teens trying their best to look cool, and the mass exit at the end when everyone walks together.
Guests from DC said they liked them much better than going and watching things at the Washington Monument – you could get closer, you could see everything clearly, it was a great show, the echoes off the mountains, the traditional small town 4th feel, and so on.