Fourth bursting with events
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Staff Report - Published: July 2, 2009
Towns throughout Vermont will celebrate Independence Day with everything from 5K runs to historical re-enactments to, of course, plenty of fireworks and outdoor eating.
The Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce Fireworks Extravaganza bills itself as the area's largest fireworks display. The show, sponsored by the Chamber and put on Northstar Fireworks of East Montpelier, features a fireworks display exploding in rapid-fire succession.
"I think people want the excitement. I'm not a fan on the down time," Thomas Donahue, the Chamber's executive vice president, said Wednesday. "They do them really quick and then they have this massive grand finale, probably second to none in the area. That's what makes us the extravaganza."
The fireworks begin at 9:45 p.m. Saturday at the Vermont State Fairgrounds following the Vermont State Fair's Summer Smash 2009. Food and vendor concessions open at 4:30 p.m. The Stoney Roberts Demolition Derby begins at 6:30 p.m.
Donahue said the rain date for the fireworks display is Sunday. However, he said, it's unlikely the event will be postponed.
"We've never not done them and we don't intend to postpone them," he said. "We won't postpone them based on rain either. The only thing that would postpone these fireworks is an actual storm, high winds or an electrical storm, where the pyrotechnic says he can't do them."
Here's a sampling of events:
Rutland County
Rutland Town fireworks will begin at dusk at Northwood Park.
The 13th Annual Bob Franzoni Boat Parade begins at 2 p.m. in Bomoseen. Parades will begin at the mouth of the channel and proceed up the west side first, then around the lake and head back down the east side of the lake. At 7 p.m. the Castleton Concert on the Green's annual Crystal Beach concert will begin with Gypsy Reel.
Brandon's Independence Day Festival will begin in Central Park at 9 a.m. with vendors, a silent auction and karaoke in the bandstand.
The parade will start at 1 p.m. The Great Brandon Ball Race will start shortly after the conclusion of the parade in Brandon Green Park. A bluegrass concert will play at the same time in Central Park. After the concert and the race there will be several activities at Park Village one mile north of Brandon. Fireworks will start at dusk.
In Castleton, the "Triumph of the Arts" samba parade will start at 10 a.m. Organizers promise dancing sculptures, curbside poets, "winged Rococo cherubs," surrealist pets, Chinese dragons, Egyptian gods and samba drummers on Main Street for this free event.
The Fourth of July celebration features a pancake breakfast at Poultney United Methodist Church from 7 to 9 a.m. There will also be a 5K run at 8 a.m. at the Green Mountain College gymnasium, with registration on both Friday from 5 to 6 p.m. and race day from 6:45 to 7:45 a.m. A parade will go from East Poultney to Poultney starting at 10 a.m. Fireworks at dusk.
Killington marks the holiday with a firefighters' barbecue and fireworks. A parade will leave from the Killington Events Hall at 10 a.m. followed by free swimming at the Johnson Recreation Pool. Firemen games will begin on the soccer field at 2 p.m. and fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m.
A day earlier on Friday, the Killington Music Festival's Music in the Mountains concert features "Made in America," Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, Benjamin Franklin's own string quartet and works composed in America. The event takes place at 7 p.m. Friday at Rams Head Lodge at the Killington Lodge. Tickets are $20 per person. Call 422-1330 for more information.
Bennington County
In Bennington, local actor Willy Jones will continue a local tradition with the reading of the Declaration of Independence at 10 a.m. at the Bennington Battle Monument.
The town is planning a day of family activities at Willow Park starting at 11 a.m. Fireworks from the park are scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m.
Manchester has a number of events planned starting with a 5K "fun run" at Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park at 9:30 a.m. with registration starting at 8 a.m. Use of the pool at the park will be free on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fireworks are scheduled to start in the park at 9:30 p.m.
At Manchester's Factory Point Town Green, there will be three concerts: Tin Penny at 4 p.m., the Marble City All-Starts at 5:30 p.m. and the Mark Harding Band at 7:30 p.m. Depot Street by the town green will be shut down for the event and food vendors will be set up in the area.
Southern Vermont's oldest Independence Day celebration happens along Main Street in Wardsboro, followed by a vibrant street fair.
The 32nd Annual 4th of July Mount Snow Area fireworks starts at 6 p.m. with a party, live entertainment and vendors at Baker Field, Twin Valley High School in Wilmington. Fireworks display at dusk, 9 p.m.
Windham County
The Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Fourth of July party with the theme of "Good Neighbors = Great Communities."
Events at Living Memorial Park include the Bill Powers Memorial Firecracker 4-Miler Road Race at 9:30 a.m. with registration at 8 a.m., a parade at 10 a.m., a carnival, swim races, music concerts, and firework at 9:30 p.m.
Grafton's holiday will start on Friday with a performance by the Vermont Symphony Orchestra beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Grafton Ponds with selections from theatrical musicals including Gershwin's "American in Paris," a medley from "Les Miserables" and music from "South Pacific." Fireworks will follow.
Saxtons River will host its traditional Fourth of July celebration beginning at 8:30 a.m. with a 5K Firecracker Road Race, followed by a parade at 9:30 a.m. Other events include firemen's water polo, music on the bandstand, a street fair and a baseball game at noon will be followed by other activities at the recreation area. Fireworks begin at dusk.
Windsor County
The Jackson Gore Outdoor Music Series begins the Fourth of July weekend in Ludlow with a free concert featuring Vermont band Twiddle on Friday on the lawn in the courtyard at the Jackson Gore Inn. The grounds open at 5 p.m. and the concerts is scheduled to run from 6 to 9 p.m.
On Saturday, the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site in Plymouth Notch will celebrate the birth of the nation as well as its 30th president.
At noon at the village green, a delegation of the Vermont National Guard will lead a march to the Plymouth Notch Cemetery to place a wreath from the White House on Coolidge's gravesite.
Other events in Plymouth Notch will include a chicken barbecue, music concerts and wagon rides.
Hartland will host a concert by The Moonlighters at 6 p.m. at the Hartland Recreation Department on Route 12. A parade starts at 11 a.m. and the day will end with fireworks.
Woodstock has a host of events planned from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. including a reading of the Declaration of Independence, wagon rides, a spelling bee and ice cream making at the Billings Farm & Museum.
Fireworks in town can be seen from Woodstock Union High School at dusk. They will be preceded starting at 4 p.m. by a cook-out picnic, children's games and other entertainment. The Woodstock Inn & Resort is hosting its second annual carnival and barbecue from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Burlington's Independence Day Waterfront Celebration is tied into the Quadricentennial Celebration of Lake Champlain. The celebrations Friday include concerts and other festivities at Perkins Pier, North Beach and Waterfront Park, beginning at 4 p.m., and culminating in a display of fireworks at 9:30 p.m., www.enjoyburlington.com or www.celebratechamplain.org.
Montpelier's Independence Day Celebration start at 6 p.m. Montpelier's Independence Day Celebration will take place on July 3. The day will feature musical performances, food vendors, a road race, parade and fireworks. Organized by the Montpelier Downtown Community Association. For more information, visit www.mdca.org. Free to all.
Disco Under the Stars!, 8 p.m.- midnight on Friday. Live music with Polyester, which plays music from the '70s and '80s, goes from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., followed by fireworks. There will be a beer and margarita garden, chips, salsa, guacamole, burgers and chicken. The beer garden is 21+, otherwise the event is all ages. No cover. Julio's Cantina. 54 State St. 229-0453, info@amarevt.com, www.julioscantina.com.
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