Events free unless otherwise noted. Email additions and updates to calendar@vnews.com.
Fireworks
Brownsville: July 3, dusk (around 8:30/9 p.m.), Astuney Outdoors, 449 Ski Tow Road.
Claremont: July 3, 9:30 p.m., Monadnock Park, 190 Broad St. (Rain date: July5).
Fairlee: July 4, around 9 p.m., over Lake Morey.
Grafton: July 11, around 9:15 p.m., Williams Recreation Field, 37 Prescott Hill Road.
Hartford/Wilder: July 4, around 9 p.m., Kilowatt South Park, 61 Passumpsic Ave.
Hartland: July 5, 9 p.m., Hartland Recreation Center, 9 Route 12.
Lebanon: July 2, 9:15 p.m., visible from Colburn Park, 51 N. Park St.
New London: July 1, Pleasant Lake.
Sunapee: July 5, around 9:15 p.m., Sunapee Harbor.
Vershire: July 4, 9 p.m., Vershire Town Center, 27 Vershire Center Road.
Woodstock: July 5, around 9:15 p.m., Woodstock Union High School.
Woodsville/Wells River: July 4, 10 p.m., Woodsville Community Field, 28 Connecticut St.
Celebrations by town
Brownsville
Grand America 250 Fireworks and live music: Friday, July 3, Astuney Outdoors, 449 Ski Tow Road. Firehouse Dixie Land Band performs. Food available for purchase. Fireworks at dusk (around 8:30/9 p.m.) Suggested $5 donation for parking.
Fourth of July festivities: Saturday, July 4, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Events are centered around Brownsville Village, Brownsville-Hartland Road. Includes line dancing, potato sack race, vendors, live music and parade. Food available for purchase. facebook.com/IndependenceDayBrownsville.
Corinth
Annual Fourth of July Celebration: Saturday, July 4. Events are centered around East Corinth. Parade begins at 10 a.m. at the north end of Village Road in East Corinth and proceeds toward the Fairgrounds at 301 Fairground Road. Includes chicken barbecue ($7 to $15), silent auction, live music and children’s activities. corinthvt.org/calendar-2.
Claremont
Pleasant Street Block Party: Friday, July 3, 1 to 5 p.m. Downtown Claremont, Pleasant Street. Includes food vendors, live music and children’s activities. 603-542-7002.
Independence Day celebration fireworks and festivities: Friday, July 3, 6 p.m. Monadnock Park, 190 Broad St. Includes food and craft vendors, live music and 50/50 raffle. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Rain date: Sunday, July 5. claremontparks.com.
Enfield
Boat Parade on Mascoma Lake: Saturday, July 4, 3 p.m. Boats should gather before 3 p.m. near the rail trail/rope swing in the north end of the lake for a counter-clockwise parade around the north end, through the bridge. That will be followed by a clockwise parade around the south end on the lake. Festive decorations and costumes encouraged. All boats welcome. Rain date: July 5. Hosted by the Mascoma Lake Association. mascomalakeassociation.org/event-calendar.
Fairlee/Orford
Fourth of July Celebration: Saturday, July 4. Parade with theme of “250 Years of ‘We the People’” starts at 11 a.m. on Route 25A in Orford, then travels along Route 10 across the bridge to Route 5 in Fairlee and ends at the field south of Wing’s Market. Followed by chicken barbecue on Fairlee Town Common and pie and ice cream at the Fairlee Community Church, and 100th anniversary celebration of the flagpole and soldiers monument. Fireworks over Lake Morey around 9 p.m. 802-333-4363.
Soldiers Monument dedication in Fairlee: Saturday, July 4, around 1 p.m. Fairlee Common, Route 5. Town officials and American Legion Post 79 members will rededicate the Soldiers Monument and flagpole in honor of the nation’s 250th. 802-333-4671.
Grafton
Grafton Independence Celebration: Saturday, July 11, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Grafton Recreation Field, 37 Prescott Hill Road. Includes flea/craft market, book sale, parade at 10 a.m., petting zoo and pie contest. Unkle Knuckles Band performs from 6 to 9 p.m. Fireworks around 9:15 p.m. 603-523-9902 or Facebook: “Recreation Committee of Grafton, NH.”
Hanover
Old Fashioned 4th of July Parade & Celebration: Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Downtown Hanover and the Dartmouth Green, 1 E. Wheelock St. Parade starts at Hanover High School and goes through downtown Hanover at 10 a.m. Includes pie and hot dog eating contests, classic games, live music and touch-a-truck. Food available for purchase. hanovernh.org/724/30th-Annual-Old-Fashioned-Fourth-of-July.
Hartford
Community reading: “The Meaning of the Fourth of July” in Quechee: Saturday, July 4, 11 a.m. to noon. The Quechee Green, 70 Village Green Circle. Community members read speech given by the renowned orator and abolitionist Frederick Douglass on the 4th of July 1852. Rain or shine. Lynn@L2comm.biz or 413-478-1569.
Independence Day Celebration in Wilder: Saturday, July 4. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. at Kilowatt South Park, 61 Passumpsic Ave. Limited parking available. Includes food vendors, children’s activities and live music. Fireworks start around 9 p.m. hartford-vt.org/3853/Independence-Day-Celebration.
Hartland
Old Home Day and Fourth of July Celebration: Saturday, July 4. Events center around Hartland Recreation Center, 19 Route 12. Tractor pull, 8 a.m. Book sale at the Hartland Public Library, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parade, 10 a.m., followed by vendors and live music. hartlandvt.myrec.com.
Fireworks celebration: Sunday, July 5. Hartland Recreation Center, 19 Route 12. Live music, 7 p.m. Fireworks, 9 p.m. Food available for purchase. hartlandvt.myrec.com.
Lebanon
Frederick Douglass reading: “What to the Slave Is Your Fourth of July?”: Saturday June 27, noon to 1:30 p.m. First Congregational Church of Lebanon, 10 S. Park St. As part of the City of Lebanon’s Independence Day festivities, community members will read the abolitionist’s 1852 speech in collaboration with other readings statewide. blackheritagetrailnh.org/events/frederick-douglas-statewide-readings-nh.
Family entertainment, live music and fireworks: Thursday, July 2, 4 to 10 p.m. Colburn Park, 51 N. Park St. Includes family friendly performances from 4 to 6 p.m., live music 7 to 9 p.m. and fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Church Street will be closed to vehicle traffic between the fire station and Valley Street for viewing. lebanonnh.gov/1063/Independence-Day.
Upper Valley Music Center performances at Lebanon’s 250th Celebration: Thursday, July 2, 5:15 to 7 p.m. Colburn Park, 51 N. Park St. Children’s Chorus performance featuring children in grades K-4, 5:15 to 5:45 p.m. Traditional New England Barn Dance with live music, 6 to 7 p.m. All dances taught. All ages welcome. uvmusic.org/event/lebanon-celebrates-the-250th.
July 4th road race, parade and cookout: Saturday, July 4, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Colburn Park, 51 N. Park St. Red, White and Blue road race begins at 9 a.m. Parade, cookout and live entertainment follows until 2:30 p.m. lebanonnh.gov/1063/Independence-Day.
4th of July Sing-Along: Saturday, July 4, 12:30 to 1 p.m. Colburn Park, 51 N. Park St. Upper Valley Music Center instructor Allison Pollard leads a singalong as part of Lebanon’s 250th parade and celebration. All welcome to sing songs celebrating independence. uvmusic.org/event/4th-of-july-sing-along-with-uvmc.
New London
“Fireworks & Flares” show: Wednesday, July 1. Viewable from anywhere with good view of Pleasant Lake. Flare show, 9 p.m. Fireworks will be set off from a barge on the lake at 9:30 p.m. plpa.net/events.
Pleasant Lake Boat Parade: Saturday, July 4, 1:30 p.m. Participants meet off the shore of the Slope & Shore Beach off Pleasant Street and go clockwise around the lake. plpa.net/events.
Norwich
Ringing in the Fourth: Celebrating the Paul Revere Bell of Norwich: Saturday, July 4, 2 p.m. Norwich Congregational Church, 15 Church St. Help ring the church’s Paul Revere bell 250 times in honor of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Followed by poetry reading, singalong and ice cream. 802-649-1433.
Plainfield
Fourth of July Parade and Festivities: Saturday, July 4, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Events take place around Plainfield Village Town Hall, 1079 Route 12A. Includes parade, art show, live music and cake auction. Food available for purchase. Begins with a pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. Parade starts at 11 a.m. plainfieldnh.org.
Plymouth, Vt.
America 250 at the Notch: Thursday, July 2, through Saturday, July 4. President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, 3780 Route 100A. Includes Coolidge Cup National Speech & Debate Tournamen, an orchestra concert featuring patriotic music at 6 p.m. Friday, July 3, and a public reading of the Declaration of Independence at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 4. $4 to $12; children under 6, free. Free admission July 4. coolidgereview.com/america-250.
Randolph
Fourth of July Parade and Post Parade Festival: Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parade begins at 10 a.m. on Main Street and ends at Town Recreation Field, 25 School St. Post Parade Festival includes vendors, activities for children and live music. Food available for purchase. whiterivervalleychamber.com/july-4th-parade-celebration.
Strafford
Annual Fourth of July Celebration and Parade: Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4. Activities center around Justin Morrill Morrill Memorial Highway. Includes book sale and softball game Friday, July 3. Parade begins at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 4, at Justin Morrill Homestead, followed by Fabulous Frog Jumping Competition, games and Strafford vs. South Strafford tug-of-war. straffordvt.org.
Independence Day Celebration: Saturday, July 4, 4 p.m. Strafford Town House, 12 Brook Road. Includes speakers, patriotic singalong and Declaration of Independence reading. straffordvt.org.
Annual Strafford Fireman’s Chicken Barbecue: Saturday, July 4, 5 to 7 p.m. Strafford Firehouse (Next to the Green in the Upper Village by Town House), 241 Justin Morrill Highway. Includes half chicken, rolls, salad, “famous” creamed corn, and pies and desserts prepared by community members. $15 per meal. 802-765-4647.
Sunapee
Independence Day Celebration day 1: The Great Watermelon derby: Friday, July 3, 6 p.m., bottom of Maple Street and River Road. sunapeenh.gov/recreation-department.
Independence Day Celebration day 2: Saturday, July 4. Pancake breakfast 7 to 10 a.m., Sunapee Safety Services, 9 Sargent Road. Abbott Library book sale, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sherburne Gym, 555 Route 11. Parade, noon to 1 p.m., Central and Main streets. sunapeenh.gov/recreation-department.
Independence Day Celebration day 3: Sunday, July 5. Live music, 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9:30 p.m., Ben Mere Park, Lake Avenue and Burkehaven Hill Road. Fireworks, around 9:15 p.m., Sunapee Harbor. sunapeenh.gov/recreation-department.
Thetford
Declaration Reading and Bell Ringing: Friday, July 3, 11:30 p.m. Thetford Hill Church, 2596 Route 113. Read the Declaration of Independence with others in the church’s choir loft. At midnight, the bell will toll 250 times in honor of the country’s anniversary, followed by a singalong and cookies. Bring flashlights. thetfordvtsqc.weebly.com.
America’s Picnic Potluck: Sunday, July 5, noon. Union Village Dam picnic area, 2 Main St., East Thetford. Bring food to share and instruments for a music jam. Includes games and Declaration of Independence reading. thetfordvtsqc.weebly.com.
Vershire
Vershire Day: Saturday, July 4. Festivities take place around Vershire Town Center, 27 Vershire Center Road. Activities including field games, chicken barbecue and children’s arts and crafts, 3 to 6 p.m. Food available for purchase and bounce house, 6 to 9 p.m. Fireworks, 9 p.m. 802-685-2227.
Woodstock
Declaration of Independence reading in Woodstock: Friday, July 3, noon to 12:30 p.m. Tribou Park, 10 Central St. Join a community reading of the Declaration of Independence with the nonpartisan Tribou Resistance at Tribou Park. Copies available. Parking at nearby East End Park. 603-410-7300.
4th on the Farm celebration: Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Billings Farm & Museum, 69 Old River Road. Includes, horse-drawn wagon rides, ice cream making, lemonade tastings, classic carnival games for all ages and historic “base ball” played by 1860 rules. $14 to $23; children under 3, free. billingsfarm.org/4th-on-the-farm.
4th of July Kids Bike Parade: Saturday, July 4. Participants will gather at Vail Field (40 South St.) to decorate their bikes, scooters and strollers. It will begin at Woodstock Elementary School (15 South St.) and go to the Village Green. Signup at woodstockvt.com/event/july-4th-kids-bike-parade.
Bill of Rights reading in Woodstock: Sunday, July 5, noon to 12:30 p.m. Tribou Park, 10 Central St. Join a community reading of the first ten Amendments to the Constitution of the United States with the nonpartisan Tribou Resistance at Tribou Park. Parking nearby at East End Park. 603-410-7300.
Fifth of July Fireworks: Sunday, July 5. Festivities begin at 4:30 p.m. Woodstock Union High School, 100 Amsden Way. Includes live music, games, children’s activities and flag ceremony. Food available for purchase. Fireworks around 9:15 p.m. $10 per vehicle. woodstockvt.com/event/july-5th-fireworks.
Woodsville/Wells River
Woodsville-Wells River 4th of July Celebration: Saturday, July 4. Parade with the theme “We the People” begins at 11 a.m. along Central Street and ends on Main Street in Wells River. Post-parade activities at Woodsville Community Field (28 Connecticut St.) include flea market, bingo, live music, prizes for kids, raffles and food vendors. Fireworks at 10 p.m. in Wells River. View show from the Community Field in Woodsville. wwr4th.org.
