Classic American stage and screen will set the tone for the Fourth of July at New Jersey Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Concert Tour, "Show Stoppers."
Conductor Robert Billig will lead the orchestra in a program that includes selections from West Side Story, My Fair Lady and Oklahoma!, along with a symphonic portrait of Irving Berlin. Mr. Billig has conducted more than a dozen shows on Broadway, including Chicago, Les Misérables and Singin’ in the Rain.
Performances will be held at Brookdale Park in Montclair July 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Mercer County Park in West Windsor July 3 at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks will follow both performances. Free admission. Call (800) 255-3476 or visit www.njsymphony.org.
More Independence Day weekend events:
NEW JERSEY FESTIVIES
- Allentown:
Allentown Presbyterian Church will present Freedom Fest at Allentown High School July 2 from 6 to 11 p.m. and July 3 from 4 to 11 p.m. Amusements of America will provide rides and the festival features games, a petting zoo, pony rides and food. Mr. Ray and the Three Sides Now Band will perform July 2 and Desperate Waters and Mahatma will perform July 3. Fireworks will be held July 3 at dusk. Call (609) 259-2233 or visit www.atownpres.org/fest. - Bordentown Township:
Bordentown Township is hosting Fourth of July activities, including a
fishing derby, concession stands, children’s games, musical performances and
fireworks at Northern Community Park on Groveville Road.The township is partnering with the state Department of Environment
Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife to host the fishing derby from 10
a.m. to noon.
Fish for the derby include about 200 sunfish, bass, catfish and
crappies at the Northern Community Park pond.The event is open to all children who are accompanied by a parent. They
should bring their own bait and fishing equipment.Prizes will be awarded in five categories, and trophies will be presented
to winners by Mayor Jerry Boyer.At 6 p.m. concession stands open as a fund-raiser for the Bordentown
Regional High School students. Money will go to the school’s student
council.
From 6 to 7:30 p.m. there will be children’s games hosted at the park,
including sack races, sponge throws and face-painting. There will be a
silent auction beginning at 6 p.m.The Trenton Brass Band Quintet Plus One will perform before the fireworks
display, scheduled to begin at dusk.The rain date for the evening part of the nightevents will be on July 5 at
the same scheduled times - Cranbury:
Fireworks are on July 5 starting at 7 p.m. with a musical performance.
Actually fireworks at dusk. People can arrive early and have a picnic
dinner. - East Windsor/Hightstown:
Concert and
fireworks on Saturday, July 3 at Etra Lake Park in East Windsor. Music
starts at 6 p.m. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. - Florence:
Florence Township is sponsoring patriotic activities on July 10, which they
refer to as their Patriotic Celebration Day.
The day will begin at 8 a.m. when people can assemble at the Alterra House,
at the end of Broad Street, for a 5K walk/run. The activity will step off at
9 a.m.There will then be a flag-raising ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Veterans
Memorial, at Ninth and Broad streets.
The parade steps off at noon, beginning on the corner of Oak Street and
East Front Street.The parade route goes from Front Street to the Boulevard,
to Fourth Street to Broad Street, to Sixth Street, where it will end at the
corner of Broad and Sixth streets.The parade will include approximately 50 elements, including several bands.
A marching brass band, the Two Street String Band from Philadelphia and the
Greater Trenton Pipes and Drums are some of the bands scheduled to
participate.There will also be floats representing different business or community
groups. The garden clubs, historical society, library, military veteran
organizations, political clubs, church groups, a girls softball team and
representatives from Florence High School are among those that will be
represented.The Grand Marshal will be Col. Eugene Olaff, a retired superintendent of
the New Jersey State Police.Following the parade, there will be a concert at 7 p.m. featuring the
Cop-Shoo-Bops, a group of retired police officers. They will be singing both
oldies and modern soft music. The concert will be at the Waterworks Complex,
which is west of Sixth and Broad streets.The last event of the night will be a fireworks show, beginning at 9:10
p.m. This will also occur at the Waterworks Complex.The rain date for the evening activities, the concert and fireworks, will
be on Sunday, July 11 at the scheduled time.
There is also a home decorating competition, for which there will be three
winners, who will receive a gift certificate to a local business of their
choice.To participate in this competition, participants must have their houses
decorated by July 1, and must call the town clerk, at 499-2525, by July 6 to
register their homes.Judging will occur on July 7. First prize is a $50 gift certificate, second
prize is a $40 gift certificate, and third prize is a $30 gift certificate.
- Fort Dix:
The annual July Fourth celebration will take place on Doughboy Field from 6
to 11 p.m. and is open to the public.There will be performances by singer Samantha Cole and the Beggars Canyon
Band.Miss Universe and Miss New Jersey will be attending the event, along with
USO’s "American Spirit" and patriotic singers and dancers to entertain the
expected crowd of thousands.Photo identification will be required for all adults and children over the
age of 12. Due to new security requirements, no picnic baskets or coolers
will be permitted, but blankets and chairs will be allowed.There will be restricted parking, but buses will be provided to
Doughboy Field.Fireworks will erupt in the sky around dusk. The rain date is July 5.
- Hamilton:
The Mahoney Brothers will perform at Veterans Park in Hamilton July 3 at 7:30 p.m., followed by fireworks. Call (609) 581-4226. The Mahoney Brothers also will play an outside concert at South Brunswick High School, 750 Ridge Road, Monmouth Junction, July 4 at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks will follow the performance at 9:05 p.m. Free admission. In case of inclement weather the concert will be held in the gym, and the fireworks will be held July 5 at 9 p.m. Call (732) 329-4000, ext. 671, or day of, ext. 686. - Jackson:
Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson will present a fireworks extravaganza above the Great Lake July 2, 3 and 4 at 10 p.m. The Charlie Daniels Band will perform July 4 at 7 p.m. Entertainment is free with park admission. Call (732) 928-2000 or visit www.sixflags.com. - Lambertville:
The Copper Penny Players will host a Fourth of July Sing-Along at York Street Park, Union and Main streets, Lambertville, July 4 at 8 p.m. Singers are invited to bring a candle or flashlight, lawn chair and snacks. Song sheets will be provided. Call (609) 397-8700. - Monroe:
July 4 Fireworks — kicked off by The Happenings in concert in the park at
7:30 p.m. followed by fireworks at Thompson Park
- New Brunswick:
An Independence Day Celebration will be held in Boyd Park in New Brunswick July 4. The Rutgers Percussion Ensemble will perform from 7:30 to 9 p.m. A fireworks display will be held on the banks of the Old Raritan. Call (732) 745-5125. - Plumsted:
A Country Rockin’ Fireworks Concert, featuring Late Nite Rodeo, will be presented by Plumsted Township Council for the Arts at New Egypt High School in New Egypt July 3 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The rain date is July 5. Call (609) 758-2144, ext. 144. - South Brunwick:
South Brunswick Township fireworks —
July 4 at 9 p.m. in the
South Brunswick High School. Rrain date is July 5 at 9 p.m. - Trenton:
Mercer County Waterfront Park will host "No Game Night," on July 3 at 7:05 p.m., featuring a broadcast of the Trenton Thunder at the New Britain Rock Cats. The City of Trenton fireworks will follow the game. Admission is $1, to benefit the Grand Slam We Care Foundation. Fireworks will also follow the Trenton Thunder game against the Portland Sea Dogs July 6 at 7:05 p.m. Call (609) 394-8326 or visit www.trentonthunder.com. - Titusville (Washington Crossing State Park):
Johnson Ferry House at Washington Crossing State Park, Titusville, will host a summer foodways demonstration July 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. Food historian Susan Plaisted will demonstrate ice cream making using late-18th-century recipes. Free admission. Call (609) 737-2515.
PENNSYLVANIA FESTIVIES
-
Doylestown:
The Fonthill Museum in Doylestown, Pa., will host an Old-Fashioned Fourth of July celebration July 4 from noon to 5 p.m. Silver Dollar Productions will present "I Hear America Singing," the 104th Pennsylvania Regiment Civil War Reenactment Group will offer a live history demonstration and the Cottage Street Sports Club of Doylestown will demonstrate "town ball," an early form of baseball. Admission is $3, $1 ages 6 to 17, free under age 6. Call (215) 348-9461, ext. 10. -
Erwinna:
Riverside Symphonia will present a Concert Under the Stars at Tinicum Park, River Road, Erwinna, Pa., July 3 at 8 p.m. Music Director Mariusz Smolij will conduct the 60-member orchestra in a diverse program that includes musical selections from Phantom of the Opera, Rodeo and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. Tickets cost $18, $10 children, $15 advance, $8 children. Call (215) 862-3300 or visit www.riversidesymphonia.org. - Morrisville:
Actors’ NET of Bucks County, Williamson Park, Delmorr Avenue,
Morrisville, 1776, July 2-4, 8 p.m., free; www.actorsnetbucks.org; (215)
295-3694 -
Newtown:
Newtown First Fourth, various locations, Newtown, July 10: Centre
Avenue, Parade, 10:30 a.m.-noon; Newtown Middle School, 116 Richboro Road,
Car Show, all day, Society for Creative Anachronism, First Crossing
Volunteers, Pony/Hay rides, face painting, games, 4:30-8 p.m., Softball
Games, 3:30-5 p.m., Remote Control Airplane Show, 5:30-6:30, Folk World, 5-6
p.m., Otto the Balloon Man, 6-7:30 p.m., Public Nuisance, juggling, 4:30-8
p.m., Live Music: Boys of Country Bucks, Bucket of Boots, Black Light
Special, James Coane, 5-8 p.m., Fireworks, 9 p.m.;
www.newtwonfirstfourth.com. -
Philadelphia:
Philadelphia 4th of July, Penns Landing, Phila., July 2, Kids Day, noon-5
p.m., Philly’s Dance Party,3-7 p.m., Concert and Fireworks, 7:30-10 p.m.;
Tall Ships Tours, July 1-4, noon-4 p.m., $10; Ice Cream Festival, July 2-4,
noon-5 p.m.; Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Phila., July 4, Parkway Festival,
2-6 p.m., Parade, 6:30 p.m., Sweet Sounds of Liberty Concert, 8:30 p.m.,
Fireworks, 11 p.m.; PECO Energy Liberty Center, 6th and Chestnut streets,
Lights of Liberty Show, Daily, every 15 min. beginning at 9 p.m.;
www.gophila.com -
Southampton:
Southampton Days, various locations, Southampton, July 5, Jaymor Road,
Parade, 9:30-11:30 a.m.; Tamanend Park, Second Street Pike and Maple Avenue,
Country Fair, noon-closing, Beatles Music Review, 7:30 p.m.; Klinger Middle
School, Second Street Pike and Bristol Road, Concert and Fireworks: Sands of
Time Band, 7:30 p.m., National Anthem, 9:25 p.m., Fireworks, 9:30 p.m., $5,
$1 under age 12; Country Fair, Tamanend Park, Second Street Pike and Maple
Avenue, July 6-11, 6-11 p.m., Car Show, July 10, 2-8 p.m.; (215) 355-1714. -
Washington Crossing:
Washington Crossing Historic Park, routes 32 and 532, Washington
Crossing, Independence Day Celebration, July 4, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., reading of
Declaration of Independence, 2 p.m., $6, $5 seniors, $2 ages 6-17, free
under age 6; www.phmc.state.pa.us; (215) 493-4076. -
Washington Crossing United Methodist Church, 1891 Wrightstown
Road, Washington Crossing, Revolutionary Run, July 4, registration from 6-8
a.m., 1 Mile fun run, 8 a.m., $15, 5 K walk, 8:15 a.m., $15, 10 K road race,
8:30 a.m., $20; www.crossingumc.org; (215) 493-5080.