Independence Day Events & July 4th Fireworks in Massachusetts

The Bay State is bursting with red, white, and blue at its many Independence Day celebrations. Sport your patriotic colors, and join the fun. Please confirm events before attending, especially due to weather.
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Tomorrow,Wednesday, July 2
Franklin’s 26th Annual 4th of July Celebration. 6 – 10 p.m. Booth, rides, and DJ.
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Thursday, July 3
*Fireworks. Hathaway Park, Assonet. 6 – 10 p.m. Booths, games, food/drink, and a fireworks display over the Assonet River. Near-site parking is limited, and many roads become one-way at 6 p.m., so arrive early. 508-644-2949.
*FestofAll. Szot Park, Chicopee. A weeekend of food, entertainment, and fireworks. http://www.chicopeefestofall.com/. Also July 4, 5, and 6.
*Annual Devens Independence Day Celebration. Rogers Field, Devens. 6 – 10 p.m. Rain Date: July 6. http://www.devenscommunity.com/.
*Dracut Junior High School. Concert begins at 7 p.m. Fireworks follow.
*Civic Days Block Party. Downtown Fitchburg. 5 - 11 p.m. Live entertainment, classic cars, International food court, vendors, kids’ events, and family fun. Fireworks at 9 p.m. 978-345-1018. http://www.civicdays.com/.
*Franklin’s 26th Annual 4th of July Celebration. 4 – 10 p.m. Booths, rides, marketplace, DJ. *Fireworks at 10 p.m. Rain Date: Sunday, July 6. http://www.franklin.ma.us/.
*Horribles Parade & Fireworks. Downtown Gloucester. 6 p.m. Bands from all over the country, floats, and people in costumes compete for prizes and trophies. Parade route: Start at Gloucester High School, down Centennial Avenue, left onto Western Avenue, left onto Rogers Street, left onto Manuel F. Lewis Way, left onto Main Street, right onto Pleasant Street, left onto Prospect Street, right onto Railroad Avenue, right onto Washington Street, left onto Centennial Avenue, right onto Emerson Avenue, left onto Lincoln Avenue, right back to High School. Traditional fireworks after the parade at 10 p.m. Popular viewing locations: Western Avenue, Stage Fort Park. 978-283-1601. http://www.thegloucesterfund.org/.
*4th of July Concert. Grafton Town Common, Grafton. 7:30 p.m. Enjoy the US Air Force Band of Liberty. E-mail graftonlions_ma@yahoo.com.
*Independence Day Summer Concert. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 7:30 p.m.$12 parking fee. http://www.concordband.org/. http://www.fruitlands.org/.
*Claflin Hill's Independence Day Spectacular Concert. Plains Park, Route 85, Cedar St., Milford. 5 p.m. Fireworks, 10 p.m. Arrive early and make it a "family picnic" event. 508-478-5924. Visit http://www.claflinhill.org/ to confirm the event. Rain date: Sunday, July 6.
*Natick 4th Cookout. Middlesex Savings Bank Parking Lot, Natick. 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 508-397-9493. http://www.natick4th.org/.
*July 4th Activities. Rutland. Chicken BBQ, 4:30 p.m. behind the fire station. Doc Thayer Road Race on the Town Common at 5 p.m. (Register at 4 p.m.) Strawberry Festival behind the Fire Station at 4 p.m. Band Concert from 7:30 – 10:30 p.m. Fireworks at Memorial Field at 9:20 p.m. http://www.thetownofrutland.com/.
*Family Fun Beach Events. Memorial Park Beach, Sharon. Traditionally, this event includes potato sack races, tug-o-war, and other wacky relays at Memorial Park Beach, Lake Massapoag, 2 p.m. and Bicycle & Doll Carriage Parade at Beech Tree Park, 3:45 p.m. The parade travels on Beach St. to the bandstand. DJ, music, and entertainment. Lakeside Celebration at Memorial Park Beach, 4 – 9:30 p.m. Bandstand concert 7 – 9 p.m. Spectacular fireworks over Lake Massapoag at 9:30 p.m. Please visit http://www.townofsharon.net/ to confirm all events.
*Fireworks Extravaganza. Stanley Park, Westfield. Food, music, fun, and fireworks. Rain Date: July 6th. http://www.stanleypark.org/.
*Fireworks. LaSalle Field, Whitinsville 9 p.m. 508-234-9454. 508-234-8448.
*Worcester's Fourth of July. Cristoforo Park, Shrewsbury St., Worcester. 8 – 10 p.m. Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra, 8 p.m. Fireworks accompanied by Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and Sousa marches, 9:30 p.m. 508-753-2924. 508-754-1234. http://www.masymphony.org/. Rain Date: July 5.
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Friday, July 4
*Fireworks. NARA Park, Acton. United States Air Force Band of Liberty perform at 8 p.m. Fireworks at dusk. http://www.acton-ma.gov/. Rain Date: July 5.
*Fireworks and Family Day. UMass Amherst, Equestrian Fields, off North Maple St., Amherst/Hadley. http://www.lsse.org/.
*July 4th Parade. South Main & Water Streets, Assonet. Starts from Copicut Rd., at 10 a.m. and ends at Hathaway Park. 508-644-2949. E-mail bigbang@town.freeman.ma.us.
*4th of July Celebration. Old Town Hall, South Rd., Bedford. 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Music of New Orleans Jazz Band. Bring a picnic lunch; iced tea and lemonade served. Purchase strawberry shortcake from Bedford Minutemen.
*Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. Hatch Shell, Charles River Esplanade, Boston. 8:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. Free outdoor concerts includes patriotic favorites. 888-484-7677. http://www.july4.org/.
*Chatham Fourth of July Parade and Pancake/Strawberry Festivals. Main St., Chatham. Pancake Festival at Chatham Elementary School, Depot Rd., 7 a.m. to noon. 508-945-1210. Parade steps off at 9:30 a.m. and travels down Main St. from the corner of Shore Rd. to Veterans Field. Parade info: 508-945-5199 or http://www.chathaminfo.com/.
*Strawberry Festival, featuring strawberry shortcake, hot dogs, sandwiches, and beverages, at First United Methodist Church, 569 Main St, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Strawberry Festival information: 508-945-0474.
*Chelmsford Fourth of July Parade. 10 a.m. One of the largest Fourth of July parades in the state. Enjoy creative floats, food, marching bands and patriotic music. Along Route 4 from Drum Hill to the downtown. 978-250-8415 and http://www.chelmsfordparade.com/.
*FestofAll. Szot Park, Chicopee. A weeekend of food, entertainment, and fireworks. www.chicopeefestofall.com. Also July 5 and 6.
*The 4th of July! Buffomville Lake, Charlton. Sand Castle Contest- 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Safe dogs on leashes welcome. No alcohol please. Arrive early for a picnic table. Otherwise, bring chairs and a BBQ grill. 508-248-5697 or http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/recreati/bvl/bvlevent.htm.
*Concord Celebrates the 4th. Picnic in the Park at Emerson Field: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Concord Band plays at 3 p.m. 978-369-9763. 978-369-3120.
*July 4 Barbeque on the Old Whaling Church Lawn. Edgartown. Bring a blanket and settle in for a delicious meal of all your backyard barbecue favorites prepared by Fella and Jane Cecilio of Fella Caters. (The ribs are outrageous!) The Vineyard Haven Band plays in concert at the Old Whaling Church. Food and beverages are sold concession style and the concerts are free. Dr. Daniel Fisher House Lawn, Main 4 - 8 p.m. 508-627-4440 or visit http://www.mvpreservation.org/
*Parade & Fireworks. Edgartown. Parade departs from Edgartown school, following Peases' Point Way downtown where it loops around joining Main Street at North Water Street. It then follows Main Street out of town returning to its starting point. Starts at 5 p.m. Arrive early at Memorial Wharf for a good spot! Fireworks begin at dark. Rain Date: July 5. 508-939-0199 or www.edgartownboardoftrade.com. Also 508-627-6100 or visit www.edgartown-ma.us/.
*49th Annual 4th of July Parade. Downtown Fitchburg. 10 a.m. from Bernardian Bowl on Summer St., Bands, floats and more. 978-345-1018. http://www.civicdays.com/.
*Falmouth Parade & Fireworks. Parade starts at 11:30 a.m. at the Bank of America (Fleet Bank), across from the Village Green, and ends at 1 p.m. at Peg Noonan Park.Fireworks on Falmouth Heights Beach, Vineyard Sound, 9 p.m. Rain Date: July 5. 508-566-9884. http://www.falmouthchamber.com/.
*Franklin’s 26th Annual 4th of July Celebration. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Regal Reptiles, DJ, and Magician. http://www.franklin.ma.us/.
*Fireworks at Hampton Beach. New Hampshire. http://www.hamptonbeach.org/.
* Independence Day Fireworks and Concert. Crane Estate, Ipswich, 5 – 10 p.m. Children’s activities include UNH’s Little Red Wagon Theatre performance, The Ugly Duckling, and Davey the Clown. Tickets available in advance by phone or at the gate: A$25, C$15 (NM). 978-921-1944 x4028. www. thetrustees.org. http://www.craneestate.org/. Rain Date: July 5.
*Declaration of Independence Reading. Shakespeare & Company, 70 Kemble St., Lenox. 3 p.m.This July 4th, hear the revolutionary words echo down the centuries, and once more give rise to the truth, honor and determination that America was founded upon. 413-637-1199
*July 4th Festivities . Lincoln. Register for the "Firecracker Run" Road Races at 8:45 a.m. Children’s bicycle parade (10 a.m.) on Lincoln Rd. Decorate your bikes! A small- town parade along Lincoln Rd. (10:40 a.m.). Free swim with music, fun, and prizes at the Codman Pool (12 –7:30 p.m.). Family soccer game on the Center Field (1 p.m.), Patriotic Sing-Along (8:45 p.m.), and Fireworks next to Codman Pool, 9 a.m. Park before 8:30 p.m. $15 donation requested. Fireworks Rain Date: July 6. Visit http://www.lincoln-ma.com/ for event updates and changes.
*Fourth of July Patriotic Concert and Fireworks Extravaganza. Vandenberg Esplanade, Lowell. Starts at 4 p.m. 1812 Overture, holiday food, children’s entertainment, http://www.historiclowell.net/.
*The Fireworks. Marlbehead. 9 p.m. http://www.marbleheadfireworks.org/.
*Independence Day Parade. Manchester by the Sea. 9 a.m. Start at Manchester High School, left onto Vine Street, left onto Norwood Street, right onto Union Street, continuing onto Central Street, right onto Pine Street, right onto Pleasant Street, right onto School Street, left onto Vine Street, back to High School.
*Fourth of July Parade. Starts at the 9/27 Plaza and proceeds down Route 27 towards Natick Center. 9 a.m. 508-397-9493. http://www.natick4th.org/.
*Needham 2008 Celebration. Memorial Park, Needham. “Go Fourth and Celebrate” theme. A grand parade, 5K road race, and craft fair/flea market. Fireworks will not be held this year due to a special field project at Memorial Park. http://www.needhamexchangeclub.org/.
*July 4th Festivities. Newton. Kids Morning, 10 a.m. – Noon, at the Newton Centre Playground features a Grande Pet Parade, decorated doll carriage promenade, teddy bear parade, and foot races. Free candy and ice cream. An Open Air Market featuring 60 handmade and international crafters will be held at the Russell J. Halloran Sports Complex at Albemarle Field off Watertown Street (Route 16) from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. There will also be amusement rides for young children and food vendors. At 6 p.m. the Zaitchik Brothers will entertain with the big band sounds of the 50’s and 60’s. Newton’s own Tony Gentile, the Master of Fireworks will light up the sky with a 30 minute magnificent display beginning at 9 p.m. 627-796-1540 or e-mail janderson@newtonma.com.
*New Bedford Summerfest & Blessing of the Fleet. New Bedford. July 4 – 6. Four stages with traditional, folk, jazz and blues entertainers and children's shows; arts and crafts area; multicultural demonstrations; whale boat races, old-fashioned carnival, seafood dinners and fireworks. 11 a.m. -9 p.m. 508-999-5231 or visit http://www.newbedfordsummerfest.com/.
*Cranberry Coast Pops Concert. Onset. http://www.onsetvillage.com/. Fireworks are on July 5.
*July 4 Parade. Nauset Middle School, Eldredge Park Way, Orleans. 10 a.m. 508-240-2484 or e-mail at bonnie@hotmail.com.
*America's Hometown 4th of July Celebration. South and North Streets., Pittsfield. 10 a.m. The 2008 “A World of Music” parade is the largest 4th of July parade in America. More than 100 floats, marching bands,giant balloons, and participants. An old-fashioned family Picnic on The Common follows with craft/food booths and entertainment. 413-443-6501, 413-447-7763, info@pittsfieldparade.com, or http://www.pittsfieldparade.com/.
*Plymouth's Fourth of July Festivities. Parade at 9:30 a.m.; Waterfront concert at 7:30 p.m.; fireworks at 9:15 p.m. 508-746-1838.
*Fabulous 4th of July. Strawberry Banke Museum, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Noon – 5 p.m. A children’s parade, traditional games and crafts, historic garden tours, music, living history, food and fun for all. Regular admission is half-price, children and members are free. Parking on-site; free. http://www.strawberrybanke.org/.
*Firemen's Parade Rockport. Starts at the Rockport High School on Jerden’s Lane at 6 p.m. and parades down Jerden’s Lane, South Street, Mount Pleasant Street, Dock Square, Main Street, Beach Street to the Legion Band Stand. At dusk there is a bonfire (which is built with pallets and always has a surprise element at the top) which burns until it topples. 6 p.m.
*July 4th Celebration. Dean Park, 803 Main Street, Shrewsbury. Noon - 4 p.m. Food, doll carriage and bike parade at 12:30 p.m., disk jockey music and games, inflatable amusements, and face painting. 508-841-8503. http://www.shrewsbury-ma.gov/.
*Star Spangled Springfield. Court Square, Springfield. 7:30 p.m. on the steps of City Hall, featuring the United States Air Force Liberty Pops. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. from the Memorial Bridge w/musical simulcast on ROCK 102, live musical entertainment and food. 413-733-3800. http://www.spiritofspringfield.org/.
*Old Sturbridge Village Fourth-of-July Fireworks. Sturbridge. 6 – 10 p.m. Reading of the Declaration of Independence by State Senator Stephen M. Brewer (D-Barre), music by the Heritage String Band, Lucky Bob the comedic juggler, and Robert Olson as old-time magician Richard Potter. Take part in community contests of yesteryear, such as sack races, a balloon toss, and a pie-eating contest. Relax on a boat ride on the Quinebaug River (separate fee). Bring a picnic or plan on supper at one of the food service outlets. Fireworks follow at dusk over the Countryside. $10pp, C under 3 free. http://www.osv.org/.
*Town of Tewksbury Fireworks. Livingston Street, Tewksbury. Fireworks begin at dusk. Free.
Happy Birthday USA Family Day. Spellman Stamp Museum, 235 Wellesley St., Weston. Noon - 4 p.m. Games, prizes, activities, and refreshments. A $5, Sr/St $3, under 16 free. 781-768-8367. http://www.spellman.org/. Fireworks. Weggagusett Beach, Weymouth. 781-335-2000.
*Season Opening Party and Reading of the Declaration of Independence and the British Reply.Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown. This Williamstown tradition takes place at the museum following the Williamstown Parade. Refreshments available. 413-597-3178. http://www.wcma.org/.
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Saturday, July 5
FestofAll. Szot Park, Chicopee. A weeekend of food, entertainment, and fireworks. http://www.chicopeefestofall.com/. Also July 6.
Franklin’s 26th Annual 4th of July Celebration: Children’s Day! 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Children’s road race, parade, Cinderella Story Time, Capron Park Zoomobile, Snow White Story time, American Idol Guest MC, Ayla Brown. http://www.franklin.ma.us/.
Hingham Fireworks. Hingham Bathing Beach. 9 p.m. Rain Date: July 6. 4th of July Events Hotline 781-804-2399.
Hyannis' July 4th Celebration . Aselton Park, Hyannis. 7:30 p.m. An extravaganza of fireworks and orchestral music. The orchestra's performance will coincide with the fireworks display. 877-HYANNIS. http://www.hyannis.com/.
Fireworks. Onset. http://www.onsetvillage.com/.
Fireworks. Rock Harbor,Orleans. Dusk. Fireworks can be seen from any Eastham Bay Beach. Rain date: July 6. 508-240-2484. or e-mail bonniebr@hotmail.com.
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Sunday, July 6
FestofAll. Szot Park, Chicopee. A weekend of food, entertainment, and fireworks. http://www.chicopeefestofall.com/.
Franklin’s 26th Annual 4th of July Celebration: Children’s Day! 12 – 6 p.m. Pony rides, Elmo story time and pictures, Franklin Idol Winner announced, and lowering of the Flag. http://www.franklin.ma.us/.
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Saturday, July 12
Fireworks and Live Music. Clinton Middle School, Route 110, Clinton. Sponsored by the Clinton Fire Dpt. Live music TBA. 978-365-4165. Rain date: July 13.
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Where is your favorite place to watch the fireworks? Let us know at calendar@baystateparent.com
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