Compared to Memorial Day, the Fourth of July holiday is relatively quiet in the Hopewell Valley.
A listing of fireworks and other celebrations is featured on the cover of this week’s TimeOff section inside today’s newspaper.
Fireworks return at park
Washington Crossing Historic Park will celebrate Independence Day on Monday, July 4, from noon to 4 p.m., rain or shine. The celebration on the Pennsylvania side will be capped off at dusk with fireworks, the first pyrotechnic display in the park in more than 20 years.
During the day, attendees can watch historians demonstrate their crafts, tour historic buildings and see a military encampment. The Declaration of Independence will be read at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. The fireworks will begin around dusk in the large field diagonal to the park’s Visitor Center.
Admission to the daytime event is $8 for adults (age 12 and older), $4 for children ages 5-11 and free for those under age five. Proceeds support educational and historical programs. The fireworks are free.
The park is located at the intersection of routes 32 and 532.
Old School church opens
The Old School Baptist Church on Broad Street in Hopewell Borough (next door to historic Hopewell House) will be open to the public on Monday, July 4, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Church trustee Bev Weidl is hosting the event and will speak on John Hart and also answer questions about the church. There will be tours of the cemetery next to the church, where there is a monument to John Hart (a signer of the Declaration of Independence), who is buried in the yard.
Pennington to host races
The Pennington Parks and Recreation Commission will host the annual 4th of July races at the Pennington School Track located on Burd Street on Monday, July 4.
Participants ages 3-12 years old should register at 9 a.m. prior to the commencement of races. Relays, races, and the long jump competition will begin promptly at 9:30. Refreshments will be provided and ribbons will be given to all winners.
For information, contact Michelle Needham at 609-818-1450.
’Stars ’n Stripes’ on stage
A Fourth of July tradition returns to the Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre stage with Stars ’n Stripes, salute to America. Stars ’n Stripes will be performed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. The theater is located inside Washington Crossing State Park at 455 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road.
Stars ’n Stripes is billed as a musical celebration of America and Americans. The two-hour revue salutes America’s greatest composers and includes songs that reflect the American experience. There are memorable tunes from Rodgers and Hart, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, and Rodgers and Hammerstein. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children (ages 12 and under) and $12 for seniors (ages 65 and older.) Tickets can be purchased at the box office a half-hour prior to the show.
