July 2-10, 2012: New England’s Largest July 4 Listings + more
07/02/12 by
Johnny Monsarrat
This Week in Review
This week I surpassed myself with crazy, researching 375 July 4th celebrations in New England. Among the fireworks, parades, and festivals, you’ll find crazy stuff like pie and watermelon eating competitions, “horribles” parades, frog jumping contests, hot air balloons, soap box derbies, and so much more! And make sure to scroll way to the bottom for New England’s largest list of outdoor theatre, movie, and music performances. Thanks to everyone who responded to the survey. I hope you’ve noticed the new bar (click on the weather icons) where you can search by date. And now I’ve got Facebook and Twitter share buttons everywhere. Do me a favor and use them! I need more readers, and it signals to me which events you really want to see more of (and less of). I hope you are having an awesome week. Now get out there and do something fun! -Johnny |
Choose a Date! Forecast Shown: Boston |
Choose a Region! |
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Boston Harborfest
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Boston, MA
– Boston Harborfest always offers something interesting. The trick is to ignore the stuff that happens all year (like guided tours, whale watches, and museums) and go for the special stuff. Check out the detailed schedule for a full list of events. Meanwhile, look for highlights here on the blog!,
Boston, MA , – |
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Operation Sail Tall Ships & Duels!
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Boston, MA
– WTF, a battle re-enactment between tall ships! GET ME THERE!! I called and confirmed that these duels are really taking place as one group on a ship tries to board the other ship.,
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Declaration of Independence Re-enactment
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Quincy, MA
2-9pm. Also a not-to-be-missed activity is to head to Quincy and participate in a re-enactment of the Constitutional Congress 2-4pm, and see re-enactors portray Thomas Jefferson and John Adams in a play 7-9pm. I’ve seen it and it’s really, really amazing. And it’s free! City of Quincy doesn’t do a July 4th outdoor celebration — they do that on Flag Day.,
Quincy, MA , |
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Jefferson and Adams: A Revolutionary Dialogue
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Quincy, MA
Also fantastic — I’ve seen it! — is this play starring former US presidents Jefferson and Adams. One a radical, the other more practical. Hint: the guy from MA is the one who never owned slaves. Highly recommended!,
Quincy, MA , |
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Reading of Frederick Douglass’s Speech before Congress
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Lynn, MA
A speech by the escaped slave and abolitionist precedes Lynn’s July 4 fireworks! 6pm.,
Lynn, MA , |
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Revere: July 3rd Celebration
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Revere, MA
Free BBQ, music, inflatables, pony rides, 10am-1pm.,
Revere, MA , |
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Sturbridge, MA (Old Sturbridge Village)
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Sturbridge, MA
– The event of the week is July 4th at Sturbridge Village. It’s my favorite live action recreation museum, featuring the 1830s. I’ve been there and the entire day is full of educational fun, plus the fireworks 7/3 are fantastic!,
Sturbridge, MA , – |
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An American Celebration w/ Abe Lincoln
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Portsmouth, NH
Independence Day festivities all day at this historic re-enactment museum, 10am-5pm. Hoola hoop contest, kite fly, treasure hunt, blacksmith demos, civil war encampment!,
Portsmouth, NH , |
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Glover’s Regiment (Revolutionary War re-enactment)
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Marblehead, MA
– Re-actments are great ways to learn some history. This re-enacted military camp is from the 1700s, with tents, cooking, craft areas, sea shanties, costumed militia and camp followers.,
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Marblehead Festival of Arts
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Marblehead, MA
– While you’re in Marblehead, check out the sand sculpture competition (6/30), a kite festival (6/30), and 7/4 events including a “Horribles Parade”and harbor illumination (which I think is flares) with fireworks at 8:45pm.,
Marblehead, MA , – |
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This week’s top items are below, or see the complete Boston Events Insider.
And a lot more this week at Boston Events Insider, the most popular events blog in New England, including:
Town Meeting Re-Enactment from 1774
New England Sand Sculpting Festival
Miata Day at Larz Anderson Museum
Cape Verdean Festival
Vintage Baseball Tournament
NERF Sword Games Night
Model airplanes – CRRC Hand-Launch Classic
Greater New Bedford Summerfest
Glove Puppetry Boot Camp (for Adults)
Fireflies at Audubon
Twilight World of Bats
Full Moon Twilight Hike & Bonfire
Heritage Gardens Annual Auto Show
Bicentennial Civil War Day
Rum Rations and Revolution: Eating and Drinking with Captain Boardman
Bibles Stories for Atheists
Get Johnny’s 2012 New England Guide
Mobile App: Boston’s Largest HiTech Calendar
Boston New Technology Meetup Group
Arlington, MA
Boston’s 4th is also on July 3rd!
Boston, MA: Rent a canoe
Burlington, MA
Everett, MA
Lexington, MA: An Old-Fashioned 4th of July
Lexington Lions Club Carnival & Fireworks
Malden, MA
Melrose, MA
Milton, MA
Newton, MA
Waltham, MA
Winthrop, MA
Acton, MA
Canton, MA
Concord, MA, Picnic in the Park
Carlisle, MA – Old Home Day
Franklin, MA
Harvard, MA
Holliston, MA
Lincoln, MA
Milford, MA
Natick, MA
Needham, MA
Norwood, MA
Sharon, MA
Stoughton, MA
Sudbury, MA
Walpole, MA
Braintree, MA
Bridgewater, MA Arts & Music Festival
Brockton Fair
Duxbury, MA
Halifax, MA
Hingham, MA
Onset, MA: (and Wareham, MA)
Plymouth, MA
Swan Festival
Weymouth, MA
Attleboro, MA – Attleboro Kidz 4th Fun!
Fairhaven Bicentennial Grand Parade
Fall River, MA
Foxboro, MA – Fitness Expo & Fireworks
found this online – research
Marion, MA
Middleborough, MA Carnival
Norton, MA
New Bedford, MA
Kayak to the Fireworks
McCoy Stadium
Seekonk, MA (Speedway Thrill Show)
Amesbury Days
Beverly, MA: July 4th and Horribles Parade
Danvers, MA Endicott Park Day
Danvers, MA Fireworks
Danvers, MA Horribles Parade
Gloucester, MA – July 4 and Horribles Parade
Two Town 4th Celebration – Hamilton / Wenham
Lynn, MA
Manchester, MA
Middleton, MA – Chief Will’s Day
Nahant, MA
North Reading, MA
Rockport, MA Parade and Beach Bonfire
Salem, MA
Salisbury Beach Sand and Sea Festival, with Pirates!
Salisbury Beach, MA
Swampscott, MA
Wakefield, MA – “Largest Parade in the State”
Andover, MA
Ayer, MA
Billerica, MA
Chelmsford, MA
Groton, MA
Lawrence, MA
Lowell, MA: Fireworks on the Merrimack
Methuen, MA
North Andover, MA
Pepperell, MA
Tewksbury, MA
Wilmington, MA
Auburn, MA
Bellingham, MA
Clinton, MA
Millbury, MA
Northbridge, MA
Rutland, MA
Shrewsbury, MA
Spencer Family Fun Day and Fireworks
Webster, MA
Worcester, MA
Worcester, MA – Tornados
Amherst, MA (and Hadley, MA)
Chicopee Fest-Of-All
East Longmeadow, MA
Easthampton, MA
Holyoke Fireworks
Monson Summerfest
South Hadley, MA
Springfield, MA
Ware, MA
Westfield, MA
Fitchburg, MA – Fitchburg Civic Days
Greenfield, MA
Chesterfield, MA – 250th Anniversary
Fourth of July Celebration – Lenox, MA
North Adams, MA
Pittsfield, MA
Barnstable, MA
Bourne, MA
Centerville, MA
Chatham, MA
Cotuit, MA
Falmouth, MA
Harwich, MA
Hyannis, MA
Hyannisport, MA
Edgartown, MA
Mashpee, MA
Nantucket, MA
Orleans, MA
Osterville, MA
Provincetown, MA
Sandwich, MA
Bristol, RI
Glocester, RI – Ancients and Horribles Parade
Block Island, RI
Cumberland, RI
Hope, RI (and Jackson, RI, Scituate, RI)
Jamestown, RI
Narragansett, RI
Newport, RI
North Kingstown, RI
Portsmouth, RI (Escobar’s Highland Farm)
Providence, RI
Smithfield, RI
South Kingstown, RI (and Wakefield, RI)
Warwick, RI
Woonsocket, RI
Alton, NH
Amherst, NH
Andover, NH
Ashland, NH
Bartlett, NH
Bradford, NH
Brentwood, NH
Bretton Woods, NH
Bristol, NH
Brookline, NH
Canaan, NH – Canaan Dirt Speedway
Center Harbor, NH
Claremont, NH
Colebrook, NH
Concord, NH
Derry, NH
Dover, NH
Durham, NH
Patriotic Sing-a-long
Errol, NH
Franconia, NH – Old Home Day
Gorham, NH
Grafton, NH
Grantham, NH – Old Home Day
Greenville, NH
Hampton Beach, NH
Hancock, NH
Hanover, NH – Old Fashioned July 4th Parade
Harrisville, NH
Hopkinton, NH
Jaffrey, NH
Jefferson, NH
Keene, NH
Laconia, NH (Weirs Beach, NH)
Lancaster, NH
Lebanon, NH
Lee, NH (LEE/USA Speedway)
Lincoln, NH (and Woodstock, NH)
Manchester, NH
Manchester, NH (Fisher Cats)
Meredith, NH
Merrimack, NH
Milford, NH
Milton, NH
Moultonborough, NH
Nashua, NH – Field Day
New Boston, NH
North Conway, NH
North Woodstock, NH
Ossipee, NH – Old Home Week
Pelham, NH
Peterborough, NH
Pittsburg, NH
Portsmouth, NH
Raymond, NH
Rochester, NH – Journey Church
Rye, NH
Salem, NH – Canobie Lake Park
Salem, NH
Sanbornton, NH – Steele Hill Resort
Strafford, NH – Day At the Dam
Sunapee, NH – Olympics
Wakefield, NH
Waterville Valley, NH
Whitefeld, NH – Mountain View Grand Resort
Winchester, NH (Firecracker Night)
Wolfeboro, NH
New London, NH
Barnum Festival Skyblast & Parade
Chester, CT
Dayville, CT (and Killingly, CT, Danielson, CT)
East Hartford, CT – Riverfest
Fairfield, CT
Greenwich, CT
Groton, CT
Hartford Riverfest
Kent, CT
Litchfield, CT
Madison, CT
Manchester, CT
Meridien, CT
Middlebury, CT – Quassy Amusement Park
Middletown, CT
Mystic, CT – Mystic Seaport
Naugatuck, CT
New Britain, CT – The Great American BOOM
New Canaan, CT
New Haven, CT
New Milford, CT
Norwalk, CT
Old Lyme, CT
Oxford, CT
Ridgefield, CT
Rowayton, CT
Shelton, CT
Stafford Springs, CT – Summerfest
Stafford Springs, CT (Stafford Springs Speedway)
Stonington, CT (Stonington Historical Society)
Stratford, CT
Thompson, CT (Monster Thrash Fest)
Torrington, CT
Vernon, CT (and Rockville, CT)
Wallingford, CT
Washington, CT (and Washington Depot, CT)
West Haven, CT
Westbrook, CT (Water’s Edge Resort and Spa)
Weston, CT
Westport, CT
Willimantic, CT – W.I.L.I. Boom Box Parade
Woodstock, CT – Fourth of July Jamboree
Augusta, ME – Whatever Family Festival
Bangor, ME
Bar Harbor, ME
Bath, ME – Bath Heritage Days
Belgrade Lakes, ME
Bethel, ME
Boothbay Harbor, ME
Bridgton, ME
Brooks, ME – Brooks Hay Days
Camden, ME – Festival of Independence
Caribou, ME – Spud Speedway
Carrabassett Valley, ME
Casco, ME – Point Sebago Resort
Damariscotta, ME
Deer Isle, ME (and Stonington)
Dexter, ME
Eastport, ME
Freeport, ME – LL Bean’s 100th Anniversary
Frye Island, ME
Greenville, ME
Harpswell, ME – Cook’s Lobster House
Houlton, ME – Houlton Fair
Jackman, ME
Jackman/Moose River Family Fun Day
Jay, ME (and Livermore Falls)
Kennebunk, ME
Lewiston, ME (and Auburn)
Limington, ME
Litchfield, ME (Birches Family Campground)
Millinocket, ME
Naples, ME
New Harbor, ME
Ogunquit, ME — Ogunquit Days
Old Orchard Beach Parade and Sandcastle Sculpture Competition
Otis, ME
Oxford, ME – Casino Night
Poland Spring, ME
Portage Lake, ME
Portland, ME – Great American Ice Cream Fest
Rangeley, ME
Saco, ME – Funtown Splashtown USA
Sanford, ME
Scarborough, ME – Beech Ridge Motor Speedway
Searsport, ME
Sebasco, ME – Sebasco Harbor Resort
Independence Day Kite Fly
Thomaston, ME
Unity, ME – Unity Raceway
Wayne, ME – Beaver Brook Campground
Winslow, ME
Winthrop, ME
Wiscasset, ME
York, ME
Bennington, VT
Brandon, VT
Brattleboro, VT
Brownsville, VT (West Windsor, VT)
Burlington, VT
Cabot, VT
Colchester, VT
East Burke, VT – Vermont Fourth Festival
Grafton, VT
Island Pond, VT
Jeffersonville, VT
Killington, VT
Ludlow, VT
Milton, VT
Montgomery Center, VT
Montpelier, VT
Newport, VT
North Danville, VT
Peacham, VT
Plymouth Notch, VT – President Calvin Coolidge Birthday
Plymouth, VT – Hawk Inn & Mountain Resort
Poultney, VT
Randolph, VT
Richmond, VT
Rutland, VT – Summer Smash
Stowe, VT
Wardsboro, VT
Warren, VT
Williston, VT
Wilmington, VT (and West Dover, VT)
Woodstock, VT – Old Vermont 4th
Sunset Clambake on Spectacle Island
Chelsea City Festival
Lynn Carnival
Newburyport Riverfront Festival – WXRV free concert
New England Summer Nationals
Ride in a WWII Vehicle on Family Day
Canoeing with Eagles
Cookie Central’s Great American Bake Sale
This Week’s Free Fun Fridays
Printmania: A Zine, Comic and Print Fair!
Berkshires Arts Festival
Brimfield Antiques Festival (Summer)
Wickford Arts Festival
Providence Restaurant Week
Midsummer Magick Faire Grand Opening and Fire Festival!
Round Hill Highland Games
Sailfest w/ Fireworks
Kennebunk Old Home Week
July Evening Lantern Walk
Stoweflake Hot Air Balloon Festival
Revolutionary War Battle of Hubbardton Commemoration
1777 Constitution Day Celebration
Worcester, Vermont Remembers the War Between the States
Middlebury Festival on the Green
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