BY SETH MANDEL
Staff Writer
Milltown
When you’re the Fourth of July Committee in Milltown looking for a drum and bugle corps, getting the eight-time world champions only makes sense.
This Saturday, July 2, Milltown’s famed Independence Day celebration will include performances by the Cadets, as well as the Crossmen, two world-famous drum and bugle corps.
“They’re going to be marching down little Main Street in Milltown,” said Randy Farkas, the chairman of Milltown’s Fourth of July Committee. “Usually, if you want to see them you’ve got to go to the Rose Bowl, you’ve got to go to the Macy’s Day Parade in New York, that’s where these guys go. These are the heavy hitters, this is the major leagues of drum and bugle corps.”
The bands are only a couple of highlights in the day-long celebration that usually doubles the borough’s population, attracting anywhere from 10,000-15,000 spectators.
“And people come from everywhere,” Committee member Russ Einbinder said. “It’s kind of a special place to gather [in Milltown] that day, and we’d like to keep it that way.”
The fishing rodeo, sponsored by the rescue squad, will begin at 6 a.m.
The fun run will take place at 7:30, followed by the 5K Race, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, at 8 a.m.
The parade will begin at about 10 a.m. Einbinder said this year’s grand marshal will be Milltown Scoutmaster William P. Isele, who, Einbinder said, has helped the borough’s Scout troops attract members from all over the area.
“We’re thrilled that he accepted to be grand marshal this year,” Einbinder said.
Following the parade will be the festival at the park, beginning around 2 p.m. The festival will have games, magicians, a folk singer for kids, a live band performance, a BMX demonstration, pony rides and a hot dog eating contest.
Visitors will only need to purchase one wristband to get access to all of the festival’s attractions.
The wristband is $7 in advance and $12 at the door.
The committee this year has also added a laser light show, which will begin at about 9 p.m.
Einbinder said there will be 40-foot poles holding up the screen for the light show, which will be projecting from the park all around the surrounding area.
“We’re trying to do something new and better for the residents, and everybody around the area better be here,” Einbinder said. “It’s going to be wild.”
While that may be a tough act to follow, the borough will make it look easy.
Immediately following the light show will be a fireworks display that will dwarf last year’s, which had already exceeded those of other area towns.
Einbinder said that last year the fireworks display included about 4,000 shells. This year, that number is closer to 8,000.
“It’s our feather in our cap,” Einbinder said. “It’s the one thing Milltown does better than anybody, and we’re very proud of it.”
Farkas has served on the Fourth of July Committee for three years, two of which he has been chairman.
He has lived in the borough for 14 years, and said he never imagined the celebration would develop into the renowned spectacle it has become.
“And it’s just been an evolution,” Farkas said. “The fireworks and the parades and everything, and I guess the other towns kind of said, ‘Hey they’re doing something — let’s go see.’ And apparently we’ve had pretty good success.”
Farkas said people from all over the state immediately think of the Independence Day celebration when he mentions that he is from Milltown.
“If you’re from out of the area and you’re looking for a home in this area and you come to Milltown, they’ll tell you, ‘It’s great, it’s a small town, they’ve got nice schools and the people are very friendly, but you have to come to the Fourth of July,’ ” Farkas said. “It’s what we are known for.”
Some borough residents have expressed disappointment in the borough’s decision to schedule the celebration on July 2, instead of July 4.
Farkas said if the celebration was on July 4, which is Monday, the rain date would have to be the following weekend, several days after Independence Day.
The parade will go on rain or shine, and the rain date for the fireworks is Sunday, July 3.
Einbinder said that the Cadets and the Crossmen were both able to make it on July 2, not on July 4.
“They’ve never seen anything like that in this town before, and we’re able to provide that because they’re able to come on Saturday — it’s the only day they could come,” Einbinder said, adding that the manager of the fireworks company the town used last year had prior obligations for July 4.
“People were very pleased [last year],” Einbinder said. “The guy has a lot of integrity, and he had contracts he had to honor this year for the Fourth, but in the future he’ll be able to do us on the Fourth.”
Farkas said the Independence Day tradition in Milltown dates back to the 1940’s, just before WWII, and it is a tradition the committee must honor.
“Our mission is to do the best job we can with the money that we have,” Farkas said. “But one little nuance of that is that the tradition is that you get a bunch of people who volunteer their time and their efforts to bring this phenomenal day to this town. This is a whole year in the making for one day. It’s a pleasure.”
Farkas said Independence Day is something that area residents identify with Milltown, and he is routinely contacted by members of other communities asking for contacts and tips concerning their own celebrations.
Einbinder said watching thousands of people from all over the state file into the borough is truly a sight to behold.
“Everybody loves it, and it’s what we’re all about,” Einbinder said. “Proud to be American, and proud to be celebrating in an excellent town like Milltown.”
Monroe
The township Independence Day celebration, sponsored by the Monroe Township Recreation Department will take place July 4 at Thompson Park. The event will begin at 5 p.m. with refreshments, food and novelties vendors, and musical entertainment featuring “Sunset Boulevard.”
At about 8:15 p.m., the color guard will be presented and honored guests will speak.
The fireworks display will follow that presentation.
Sayreville
The borough’s fireworks display will take place July 2 at Kennedy Park on Washington Road at about 9 p.m.
Local bands will kick off the evening’s program, and the fireworks will follow.
East Brunswick
The township’s fireworks display will be at the Middlesex County Fairgrounds on Cranbury Road July 4.
The Fairgrounds will open to the public at 5:30 p.m. with food vendors and children’s activities. At 7 p.m., a live concert featuring Jukebox Heroes will begin the countdown to the fireworks display at dusk.
Admission is free, but the township asks that visitors contribute a nonperishable food item to its Summer Food Drive.
Rain date is July 5.
South River
The borough’s fireworks display will take place Friday, July 1, at Denny Stadium.
Musical entertainment will begin at 8 p.m. and the fireworks will begin at dusk.
The SRHS girls sports will be sponsoring a refreshment stand opening at 6:30 p.m., and will be selling hot dogs, popcorn and beverages.
Rain date is July 2.