New England Celebrates Independence Day

As New England (as well as the rest of the nation) enters the Independence Day weekend, there are a large number of events throughout the region that are planned as part of the celebration of the 235th birthday of the United States of America (and these events are definitely included among New England’s treasures). Independence Day celebrates the day the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress.

Background information:

National Archives: Declaration of Independence

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The Independence Day events in New England include:

• a special 1876 Independence Day ceremony at Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT;

   For more information, please visit:

   The Day: Mystic Seaport celebrates Independence Day, the 1876 way (30 JUN 11)

   Mystic Seaport

• the annual WILI Boom Box Parade in Willimantic, CT (a people’s parade with no real bands - marchers and spectators bring radios and play them while local radio station broadcasts the marching band music);

   For more information, please visit:

   WILI Boom Box Parade

   Charter Community Access TV: 2010 Boom Box Parade

• a public reading of the Declaration of Independence and Independence Day commentary by a living history interpreter at the Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site, Bristol, ME;

   For more information, please visit:

   Friends of Colonial Pemaquid

• the Eastport, ME, Fourth of July Festival, a four-day festival deemed to be the largest Independence Day celebration in Maine;

   For more information, please visit:

   Eastport 4th of July

• the Boston Pops Spectacular (3-4 July) on the Esplanade in Boston, MA (concert by the Boston Pops, including Tchaikovsky’s "1812 Overture," with howitzer cannons, church bells, and fireworks; on the 4th only, the concert is followed by a fireworks display over the Charles River);

   For more information, please visit:

   July 4th Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular

• an 1830’s Independence Day Celebration in Sturbridge, MA (including a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence, a citizens' procession, and a game of early 19th-century base ball);

   For more information, please visit:

   Old Sturbridge Village

• the July 4th Celebration, Center Harbor, NH (which includes the 33rd Annual Road Race And Fun Run, July 4th Parade - "Honoring our Troops - Past and Present", a Center Harbor Town Band concert, and fireworks);

   For more information, please visit:

   Center Harbor Parks & Recreation Calendar of Events

• An American Celebration at Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth, NH (the event includes a children's bike and wagon parade, giant kite fly, potato sack races, kids’ liberty treasure hunt, garden crafts, live music, historic garden tours, costumed role-players, colonial hearth cooking, basket weaving, Island Pond Spinners, and hand-thrown pottery)

   For more information, please visit:

   Strawbery Banke Museum

• the 226th Fourth of July Celebration in Bristol, RI (which includes the 226th Annual Military, Civic and Firemen’s Parade, a drum and bugle Corps competition, and a number of other activities);

   For more information, please visit:

   Bristol Rhode Island's Annual Fourt of July Celebration

• the 85th Annual Ancient and Horribles Parade in Chepachet, RI (which includes a number of spoofs local and national politics);

   For more information, please visit:

   Glocester, RI: Ancient and Horribles Parade

   Providence Journal: Still ancient, still horrible, parade still draws a crowd (5 JUL 09)

• the By the People; Brattleboro Goes Fourth Parade, Brattleboro, VT (the town’s 38th annual July 4 event is designed to honor the community's spirit of cooperation in the face of recent challenge with this year's theme, "Together, We Go Fourth”); and

   For more information, please visit:

   Brattleboro Goes Fourth

   Brattleboro Reformer: Brattleboro event to celebrate community spirit of cooperation 

• an Old Vermont Fourth of July, at the Billings Farm and Museum, Woodstock, VT (events include a reading of the Declaration of Independence, historic debates, wagon rides, making of 1890 flags, a spelling bee, and an egg toss).

   For more information, please visit:

   Billings Farm & Museum