2009 Fireworks & 4th of July Festivities in MetroWest
FRAMINGHAM, MA - MetroWest and Metro-Boston have a number of Fourth of July fireworks. Some are part of a weekend or daylong series of activities. Note the day as not all are on July 4th. Visit town websites for details.
Fireworks:
- Milford – July 3, 10 pm Plains Park – Rain Date July 5th
- Franklin – July 2 , 10 p.m., high school field
- Needham – July 3, Dusk, Memorial Park
- Acton – July, Nara Park, Approx. 9:30 p.m.
- Lincoln – July 4, Lincoln Public Schools Complex, 9 p.m.
- Newton – July 4, Halloran Field, 9 p.m.
- Waltham – July 4, Leary Field, 9 p.m.
- Worcester – July 2, Cristoforo Colombo Park (East Park), 9:30 p.m. Rain Date July 3.
Multi-Day Events:
Boston Harborfest: The annual celebration along Boston’s waterfront, featuring more than 200 events, will be held June 30-July 5. For information, visit www.bostonharborfest.com or call 617-227-1528.
Franklin: The town’s annual 4th of July celebration will be held from July 1-5 at the common, and will including bands, rides, children’s activities, road race and Franklin Idol (both on July 4) and fireworks (on July 2). For details, visit www.franklinma.virtualtownhall.net or http://july4thfranklinma.com/
Lexington: The Lions Club’s annual carnival will be held at Center Playground on July 1 and 2 from 6-11 p.m., July 3 from 1-11 p.m. (fireworks after sundown), July 4 (youth games from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., carnival from 1-11 p.m.), and July 5 from 1-7 p.m. For information and updates, visit www.lexingtonlions.org.
Wednesday, July 1
Natick: 4-8 p.m. Family Night on the Common, including the Children’s Parade at 6 p.m. There will be games, food and raffle drawings, as well as entertainment. For updates, visit www.natick4th.org.
Thursday, July 2
Worcester: The Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra presents a family pops concert, including Sousa marches and fireworks, on July 2 from 8-10 p.m. at Cristoforo Columbo Park (East Park), Shrewsbury Street and Fantasia Drive. Conductor will be Alton Baggett and Jane Shivick will be the soloist. Bobbie Chase will be the announcer. Rain date is July 3. Cost: free but donations will be accepted.
Friday, July 3rd
Needham: The Needham Exchange Club is sponsoring the following events at Memorial Field from 5-10 p.m.: food tents from 5-8:45 p.m., including ice cream, grilled foods and soft drinks; Maple Street Project, a hometown folk and blues band, from 5-7 p.m.; children’s entertainment from 5-8 p.m., including pony rides and face painting; the oldies band Reminisants from 7-9 p.m.; and fireworks when it gets dark. Visit www.needhamexchangeclub.org for updates and details.
Framingham: Concerts on the Green: Framingham Centre Common, 6:3 0 – 8:30 p.m. Suburbanaires Big Band Sound.
Saturday, July 4
Acton: The annual celebration at NARA Park, off Route 27 in North Acton, will begin at 6 p.m. with Facepaint, followed by a performance of the Rolling Stones tribute band, the Blushing Brides and fireworks at 10 p.m. There will be food vendors on site, and limited free shuttle buses to NARA Park from Nagog Park Drive beginning at 6 p.m. Rain date is July 5. for updates, visit www.acton-ma.gov.
Boston: The city’s annual Independence Day observances will be from 9-11 a.m. at City Hall Plaza. 9 a.m., flag raising at City Hall Plaza; 9:15 a.m., parade; 9:30 a.m., Halt for the Honor at Old Granary Burial Ground; 9:45 a.m., Reading of the Declaration of Independence, Old State House; 10:30 a.m., Independence Day Oration, Faneuil Hall. Call 617-635-3911 for information
Concord: The Picnic in the Park will be held from 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Emerson Field on Everett Street. Bicycle and doll carriage parade starts the day’s activities. Music starting at noon with Uncle Sam’s Patriotic Jazz Band, Southern Rail bluegrass band and the Concord Band. Program by Benjamin the Juggler and demonstration by Concord Police K9 Unit. Tethered hot air balloon rides, activity booths, food concessions. For information, call 978-369-1890.
Natick: 7 a.m.-noon. Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast at Sherrill Hall, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, East Central Street; 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Flea Market on the Common. Shop for treasures and bargains; dealer spaces available for $35; 9 a.m. The 54th annual Parade will step off from the 9/27 Plaza and travels down Route 27 to Route 135 in Natick Center. This year’s theme will be “Celebrating the Great Outdoors in Natick,” and the grand marshals will be the following organizations: Natick Recreation and Parks Department; Natick Garden Club; and Natick DPW’s “Garden Girls,” Nancy Halpern and Jane Magee. For updates, visit www.natick4th.org.
Needham: The Needham Exchange Club is sponsoring the following events to celebrate Independence Day: 8:30 a.m., registration for Children’s Parade decorated bikes and costumes, Greene’s Field on Pickering Street; 8:45 a.m., annual 5K road race at Carter Memorial Church; 9 a.m., salute and flag raising, Town Common; 9:05 a.m., Grand Parade with bands, floats, musical groups and more; 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Craft Fair and Flea Market; 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Food Tents, with grilled food, soft drinks, cotton candy and more; 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Music by the Centre Streeters at the Gazebo; 12:30 p.m., children’s races and contests at football field; 2 p.m., open swim meet at Rosemary Pool, and Needham Little League All-Star Game at Memorial Park. Visit www.needhamexchangeclub.org for updates and details.
Newton: The annual July 4th celebrations will take place at the following locations: the Kids Morning from 10 a.m.-noon at Newton Centre Playground, featuring activities for kids age 3-12, including a pet parade, teddy bear parade, decorated doll carriage promenade, foot races, free ice cream, candy and drinks; at the Russell J. Halloran Field and Sports Complex, Albemarle Road off Route 16, Open Air Market and Amusement Rides, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., with handmade and international crafts, professional dealers and food vendors; Summer Stage and the Gazebo, noon-9 p.m. on the hour, with musical selections from Jekyll and Hyde, Violet and the Spitfire Grill; picnic beginning at 6 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m. Sponsored by the Newton Pride Committee.
Sherborn: Field games at Laurel Field will begin at 9 a.m. with events for all ages. The parade, featuring floats, antique and classic cars and the “wet float,” will step off around 2 p.m. and head down Main Street to Jameson Fields. The parade’s theme is “Old Sherborn’s Historic Businesses.” After the parade, there will be fire truck rides at Station One on Main Street starting at 5 p.m. The events are sponsored by the Sherborn Fire and Rescue Association.
Sudbury: There are two road races at Featherland Park, a 1.5-mile race for children 9-13 years old, and a 3.8-mile race for runners 14 and over. The race has been held annually for more than 40 years. Its only purpose is to provide an occasion for hometown road race competition. It has been the tradition over all that time that only town residents are eligible for prizes and awards, although nonresidents are welcome to run. “Residents” also includes people who no longer live in Sudbury but who grew up here and still have family living here. Registration begins at 8 a.m., the kids race starts at 9 a.m. and the 3.8 mile race begins at 9:30 a.m. For more information contact Bob Hall at 978-443-8404 or Graham Taylor at 978-443-5024. The annual parade will step off at 1 p.m.
Waltham: From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Prospect Hill Park, there will be a family event featuring free children’s rides, pony rides, animal shows, music, food, drinks, and much more. From 5:30-10 p.m. at Leary Field, the Reminisants will perform until 9:30 p.m., followed by fireworks. Children’s rides will be at Prospect Hill only. For more information, please contact 781-314-3100. This event is sponsored by the Waltham Celebration Committee and the City of Waltham.
Celebrate!
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