Honoring the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, Tom McNamara, of Plainfield, N.H., is dressed as Neil Armstrong and waves to children atop McNamara Dairy's "Dream Bigger" float as it passes in front of the Town Hall building on Route 12A during the 38th annual Fourth of July parade in Plainfield, N.H., on July 4, 2019. The Plainfield-based dairy gave away 1,500 bottles of chocolate milk, a tradition they started in 2002. Parade co-organizer Liz McNamara estimated 2,000 people attended. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.
Honoring the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, Tom McNamara, of Plainfield, N.H., is dressed as Neil Armstrong and waves to children atop McNamara Dairy's "Dream Bigger" float as it passes in front of the Town Hall building on Route 12A during the 38th annual Fourth of July parade in Plainfield, N.H., on July 4, 2019. The Plainfield-based dairy gave away 1,500 bottles of chocolate milk, a tradition they started in 2002. Parade co-organizer Liz McNamara estimated 2,000 people attended. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.

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.

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.

Dan Gauvreau, of Springfield, right, gives Morgan Mae Smith, 5, of Weathersfield, a high five, while riding with the Shriners' Sinai Joe's Clown Unit in the West Windsor Independence Day parade in the village of Brownsville, Vt., on Saturday, July 3, 2021. (Valley News - James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.
Dan Gauvreau, of Springfield, right, gives Morgan Mae Smith, 5, of Weathersfield, a high five, while riding with the Shriners’ Sinai Joe’s Clown Unit in the West Windsor Independence Day parade in the village of Brownsville, Vt., on Saturday, July 3, 2021. (Valley News – James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.

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.

Elliot Duquette, 9, pauses his sword fight with a balloon to laugh during the Independence Day celebration at Monadnock Park in Claremont, N.H., on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Valley News - James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.
Elliot Duquette, 9, pauses his sword fight with a balloon to laugh during the Independence Day celebration at Monadnock Park in Claremont, N.H., on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Valley News – James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Credit: James M. Patterson

Claremont

Independence Day celebration: Friday, July 3, 1 to 5 p.m. Downtown Claremont, Pleasant Street. Includes food vendors and other 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: Parade with theme of โ€œ250 Years of ‘We the People’โ€ 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 Wingโ€™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

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.

Bob Williamson, of South Woodstock, Vt., participates in a group reading of Frederick Douglass' 1852 Independence Day speech, "The Meaning of the Fourth of July for the Negro," on Saturday, July 1, 2017, in Quechee.  (Valley News - Jovelle Tamayo) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.
Bob Williamson, of South Woodstock, Vt., participates in a group reading of Frederick Douglass’ 1852 Independence Day speech, “The Meaning of the Fourth of July for the Negro,” on Saturday, July 1, 2017, in Quechee. (Valley News – Jovelle Tamayo) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Credit: Valley News file photograph โ€” Jovelle Tamayo

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, childrenโ€™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 Lebanonโ€™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 Lebanonโ€™s 250th parade and celebration. All welcome to sing songs celebrating independence. uvmusic.org/event/4th-of-july-sing-along-with-uvmc.

New London

โ€œFireworks & Flaresโ€ 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.

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.

John Yacavone, of Meriden, N.H., waits for the start of the 38th annual Fourth of July parade in Plainfield, N.H., on July 4, 2019. As Uncle Sam, Yacovone has led the parade for the past six years. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.
John Yacavone, of Meriden, N.H., waits for the start of the 38th annual Fourth of July parade in Plainfield, N.H., on July 4, 2019. As Uncle Sam, Yacovone has led the parade for the past six years. (Valley News – Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Credit: Geoff Hansen

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 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.

Woodstock

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.

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 5. Parade with the theme begins at 11 a.m. along Central Street. 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.

Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.