REGION – Below is a list of celebrations and festivities throughout the region for Fourth of July and America’s 250th anniversary.
ACWORTH, N.H. –
The Town of Acworth will mark a historic milestone in America’s story with “Acworth Celebrates,” a community-wide celebration honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States, to be held on Saturday, July 4, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., at the Acworth Town Common by the Acworth Town Hall.
This family-friendly event will bring neighbors and visitors together for an afternoon of patriotism, history, and community spirit. Festivities will include a potluck picnic, local vendors and crafts, live music, and readings from America’s founding documents, along with other activities celebrating the nation’s founding and Acworth’s role in that shared heritage.
Community members are encouraged to participate in the potluck picnic and coordinate dishes in advance. Attendees can register their potluck item and see what others are bringing at www.perfectpotluck.com/AUPO0832.
The celebration is sponsored by the Acworth Community Project, which is still seeking vendors and volunteers to help make this landmark event a success. For more information, or to inquire about volunteering or vendor participation, please contact Michael Aron at michaelaron66@yahoo.com or 603-843-7887.
Mark your calendars and plan to join friends and neighbors as Acworth Celebrates 250 years of American independence with food, music, history, and community pride.
BROWNSVILLE, Vt. –
The Brownsville Independence Day Committee (IDC), made up of community volunteers, is looking forward to welcoming folks from near and far to our Ascutney Mountain on July 3. The evening begins at 6 p.m., and we ask that you please follow the signs entering and leaving the parking lot. To help with this year’s increased costs, there is a suggested parking donation, which is greatly appreciated.
On the slopes adjacent to Ascutney Outdoors, there will be live music by the Firehouse Dixie Land Band and delicious delicacies for you to enjoy. Returning this year is American Pie with their sweet or savory wood-fired pizzas. Our reliable Moonlighters will again be flipping the best burgers and hot dogs, accompanied by fries and soft drinks. New this year, we are pleased to welcome The Waffle Cabin to delight everyone’s sweet tooth.
All of this is followed by the grand America 250 fireworks.
The next morning, July 4, down in Brownsville Village, an abundant community breakfast at Brownsville Community Church is planned. Then, in the church’s Tribute Park Pavilion, there will be lively, wear-off-the-calories line dancing for all ages followed by crafty vendors selling their wares, important local groups sharing important information, and a book sale. Outside, there will be music, the sweet aromas of grilled goodies, finger lickin’ fried chicken, and luscious Mexican fare. Watching calories? Get a fruit smoothie prepared by the Fast Squad volunteers. This will be followed by the grand America 250 Brownsville Independence Day Parade.
Then, let the 250th Revolutionary Celebration Games begin. These revolutionary festivities kick off at 10 a.m., at Albert Bridge School in Brownsville, Vt. Get ready for a morning of high-energy fun and historical spirit. Locals and kids from neighboring towns are all welcome.
Calling all cyclists; throughout the morning, visit our crafting station for bike-decorating supplies. We want to see your most patriotic designs for the big America 250 bike parade.
Many lawn games will be available throughout the day, including bocci, Kan Jam, badminton, cornhole, and croquet. There will also be a potato sack race, three-legged race, wheelbarrow race, and the Refreshing Sponge Relay. These events will run from 10-11:20 a.m.
To help us with the fun, please contact Jenifer at 603-303-6337 or Linda at 802-230-5325.
CLAREMONT, N.H. –
Independence Day celebrations in Claremont begin on Friday, July 3, from 1-5 p.m., in downtown Claremont, with food vendors, pop-up shops, local artisans, and live music. There will also be a touch-a-truck event and a scavenger hunt, followed by fireworks at Monadnock Park, at 9:30 p.m.
On Saturday morning, July 4, there will be family fun on the visitor center green.
In addition, winners of the Claremont Historical Society’s “250 Years of America” art contest from Disnard and Maple Avenue elementary schools, Claremont Middle School, and Stevens High School will have their pieces displayed at the Claremont History Museum, 26 Mulberry Street.
GRAFTON, Vt. –
GraftonVtCelebrates is happy to announce that Richard Desrochers and Bill Toomey will serve as grand marshals for our 250th Celebration Parade in Grafton, Vt., on June 27, at 11 a.m. The parade route is Townshend Road to Main Street, to Pleasant Street, and back to start.
Following the parade, Grafton is hosting a birthday bash at the ballfield, from 12-3 p.m., with food and entertainment, including live music, horse-drawn wagon rides, and children’s games.
If you get to know Desrochers and Toomey, you will learn that they have a number of things in common. They each came to live in Grafton in the ‘60s, music has been a big part of their lives, both are veterans, and both men have been fully involved in Grafton life over the years. Despite spending most of their lives in Grafton, neither lay claim to being long-timers, although Desrochers married into a family that was among Grafton’s earliest settlers and lives in the Park family home, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Both Desrochers and Toomey enjoy talking with others and sharing stories from their interesting lives.
Desrochers married Martha Park, an 11th-generation descendent of Grafton settlers and longtime teacher at Central School in Bellows Falls. Desrochers has been a proud member of Grafton Coronet Band for almost 70 years, serving part of that time as band president.
Music drove many of Toomey’s life choices. Toomey and his wife, Diana, spent a year in Holland, where he wanted to revive his musical skills, and four years in Switzerland. Bill taught classical guitar at The Putney School and worked with others to found a music school in Brattleboro that still operates to this day. Bill worked for more than 30 years at The Old Tavern, much of that time as assistant innkeeper, where he organized a well-received concert series for many years and taught instrumental music on his days off, including the lute.
Desrochers and Toomey were board members of the Grafton Historical Society (GHS), with Desrochers serving some of that time as president. They worked together, and Desrochers was a particularly driving force in the long process of recognizing historic buildings and four districts in Grafton on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as in the purchase and restoration of the Brick Meeting House. Toomey continues to be a GHS weekend docent. Desrochers is also a longtime member of the Grafton Fire Department.
After retirement, Toomey joined the Grafton Cares Board and became a Meals on Wheels driver. He also regularly visits and supports local veterans. He has also enjoyed a poetry group at the Grafton Library. Desrochers takes pride in maintaining the Park family home and land, including mowing around and in the cellar hole of the original Grafton (then known as Thomlinson) Meeting House. Desrochers continues to support the Grafton Band and happily shares his knowledge about Grafton history and historic places with groups and individuals.
LUDLOW, Vt. –
On Saturday, July 4, Ludlow will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a grand parade, a historic 1776-style celebration, and other events. Join us for a day of patriotic fun and community spirit.
At 10 a.m., kick off the day with our grand parade. Following the parade, head over to Veterans Park on Main Street for a Johnny Murphy barbecue, live music, dancing, and family-friendly festivities. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson will be there for a meet-and-greet.
There will be a Liberty Tree dedication on the Black River High School lawn, at 9 a.m., followed by a parade from Benson’s Chevrolet through downtown Ludlow, beginning at 10 a.m.
Then, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., festivities will be held at Veterans Park. Step back into 1776 and recite the Declaration of Independence with Thomas Jefferson. There will be music and patriotic songs, period dances, a barbecue, and birthday cake with George and Martha Washington.
In the evening, from 6-9:30 p.m., at the Okemo base area, there will be food vendors, live music by Rustie Bus, and fireworks launched from Okemo at dusk.
We want you in our 1776-themed parade. We are looking for kids with decorated bikes (win a prize for best decorated), civic organizations, local clubs, Black River High School alumni floats, local businesses, performers, classic vehicles, marching groups, and animals (horses, cows, oxen, goats, llamas, etc.). Dress up your dog and win a prize. The parade is open to all surrounding towns.
To be in the parade, contact one of the event cochairs: Kim Lampert, 802-228-4000 or kimberlylampert@bensonschevy.com, or Penny Wu, 802-228-2860 or pwu@ludlow.vt.us.
SAXTONS RIVER, Vt. –
New this year, the Tour des Villages is a cycling event for all ages and abilities. Check-in opens on Saturday, July 4, at 9:10 a.m. Start time is 9:30 a.m. There are 9-mile and 14-mile distances starting at The Saxtons River Inn, biking towards Grafton. You set your own pace, and tell us your chosen distance and how much time it will take you. The two riders closest to their predicted time each win a $100 cash prize. A small entrance fee is payable in cash at check-in.
More details about this event can be found at www.srvtfourth.org. For more information, text Dave Moore at 802-289-9006. Preregister by text message at 802-289-9006, stating whether you are riding 9 miles or 14 miles, and your prediction of your time to the second. Please include your name and cell number. Example: “John Doe. 14 miles. 73 minutes 28 seconds. 802-555-5555.”