Here’s a feast of fireworks and other activities to celebrate the Fourth of July.
From symphonies to sing-alongs, old-fashioned celebrations
to spending the day with Big Bird, there’s a way for everyone to celebrate Independence
Day:
- Spirit of Princeton’s annual
fireworks display will kick off the holiday weekend on June 30 at dusk.
The best places to view fireworks are from Campbell and Finney fields, next to
the Princeton University football stadium. Gates open at 6 p.m. for picnics. Fireworks
are scheduled for 9 p.m. There is no rain date. On the Web: www.spiritofprinceton.org. - Montgomery Township
will hold its Independence Day celebration Friday replete with a fireworks display
at Montgomery High School on Route 601. Festivities begin at 6 p.m. with games,
refreshments and inflatable rides. Music by "The Party Dolls" will begin
at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks, start at 9:15 p.m. Call (609) 466-3023 for additional
information. - Freedom Fest, a
fireworks celebration hosted by Mercer County and 97.5 The Hawk, will be held
at Mercer County Park in West Windsor July 1, 3-9 p.m. The "B" Street
Band will salute Bruce Springsteen, and 2-U, a U2 cover band, will perform. The
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra will hold a special performance as well,
followed by a fireworks display. The day’s agenda includes food, crafters, kids’
rides, the Mercer County 4H petting zoo and other family fun. Park entrances are
on Old Trenton Road and Hughes Drive. Free admission. Rain date is July 2. On
the Web: www.mercercounty.org/parks - R&B greats CeCe Peniston and The Ohio Players
will perform at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia
July 1 at 6:30 p.m., followed by a fireworks display. Free admission. For
information, visit www.americasbirthday.com - Rock fans are in for a hot-blooded time at a two-day celebration
featuring rock legends Foreigner at Cooper River
Park in Pensauken and Wiggins Park at the Camden Waterfront. Touch
of Class will kick off the event with a tribute to Motown on July 1 at
Wiggins Waterfront Park at 7 p.m. The July
4 half of the party will feature Foreigner and fireworks from 5-11 p.m. at
Cooper River Park. Admission to both concerts is free. For information, call (856)
216-2170. On the Web: www.camdencounty.com
- Riverside Symphonia’s Concert Under
the Stars will take place July 1 at Tinicum Park in Erwinna,
Pa. The 60-piece orchestra’s program will include selections from Aaron Copeland’s
Rodeo, patriotic favorites and Tchaikovsky’s "1812 Overture." The night
also will include a performance by Makefield, a local rock ‘n’ roll cover band
featuring Riverside Symphonia Musical Director Mariusz Smolij on keyboards. New
Hope resident Gabrielle Antonini, a soprano, will perform as well. The concert
begins at 8 p.m. with gates opening at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $25, $20 advance, $10
children. For information, call (215) 862-3300. On the Web: www.riversidesymphonia.org - Runners can start celebrating the Fourth early in the morning
at the 26th annual Revolutionary Run on July
4 at Washington Crossing Historic State Park in Washington Crossing, Pa. The
run will feature a 10K road race, a one-mile fun run and a 5K fitness run/walk.
Registration will take place from 6-7:45 a.m., with the first race beginning at
8 a.m. For fees and more information, call (215) 493-5080. The park will hold
an Independence Day Celebration 11 a.m.-5 p.m., including a reading of
the Declaration of Independence, open hearth cooking demonstrations, music by
Pan’s Fancy and a visit with Gen. Washington. Admission costs $6, $3 ages 6 to
17. For information, call (215) 493-4076. - The Copper Penny Players
will present its Fourth of July Sing-Along in Lambertville at York
Street Park (between Union and Main streets) July 4 at 7:30 p.m. Singers
of all ages are invited to bring a candle or flashlight, lawn chairs and snacks
to celebrate America with song. Song sheets will be provided. For more information,
call (609) 397-8700. - East Windsor—Etra Lake
Park, Sunday, July 2. Raindate Monday. Free musical entertainment begins at 6
p.m. . Fireworks around 9:30 p.m. - Hillsborough Parks
and Recreation Department, along with the Cultural and Arts Commission will hold
the Independence Day Celebration, Fireworks and Family Fun Night on Saturday,
July 1st at the Auten Road School on Auten Road beginning at 3:00pm. Rain
date is Sunday, July 2nd. Free shuttle bus service will be available from the
Middle School and High School beginning at 3 p.m. Admission to the celebration
is free. For more information contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (908)
369-4313. - Waterloo Village will hold an Americana
Celebration July 1-4, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The restored 19th-century
Morris Canal port town is located at 525 Waterloo Road, Stanhope. Barbecue and
beer will be available. Learn how to make candles at red, white and blue candle-making
demonstration or make your own 1870s flag. The event is free with park admission
($9, $8 seniors, $7 children). For information, call (973) 347-0900. On the Web:
www.waterloovillage.org - Lawrence Township
will host its annual fireworks display on the grounds of
Rider University, 2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrence, July 3, 9:40
p.m. Participants are invited to come early for a concert at 7 p.m. and bring
a picnic, blanket and chairs to enjoy the free event. For information, call (609)
844-7067. - Six Flags Great Adventure
in Jackson will celebrate both Independence Day and the park’s 45th Anniversary
with fireworks at 10 p.m. July 2-4. A musical fireworks production
will feature Bugs Bunny. Free with park admission. For information, call (609)
928-2000. On the Web: www.sixflags.com. - The Historic Village at Allaire
in Allaire State Park, Route 524, Wall, will recreate an 1836-style Independence
Day July 2 from 1-4 p.m. The day will include 19th-century games, historical
readings of the Declaration of Independence, music, and dancing. Feel free to
bring a picnic lunch. The celebration is free. Admission is $3, $2 ages 6 to 12.
For information, call (732) 919-3500. On the Web: www.allairevillage.org
PENNSYLVANIA EVENTS
- Sesame Place in Langhorne,
Pa., will host special activities July 1-4, including a display of the
history of the United States flag. Children will have the opportunity to send
a message to troops at the pocket flag project. All four days will also offer
an all-you-can-eat cookout at the Riverside Pavilion ($12.95 adults, $9.95 under
12). The weekend’s events also include a concert by Yosi and The Super Dads at
the Big Bird steps, a military flag-raising ceremony and a bald eagle display.
Admission costs $41.95, $38.95 seniors, under 2 free. For information, call (215)
752-7070. On the Web: www.sesameplace.com - Peddler’s Village in
Lahaska, Pa., will celebrate America’s Birthday with its third annual Celebration
of Freedom July 1 from 4-10 p.m. The highlight of the celebration is the 9:15
p.m. fireworks show by Zambelli Fireworks Internationale. The fireworks will be
visible from anywhere in the Village. The festivities also will include live entertainment,
picnic-style food and children’s crafts and activities. Free admission and parking.
For information, call (215) 794-4000. On the Web: www.peddlersvillage.com - Southampton Days is
a six-day country fair in Southampton, Pa., featuring a parade, fireworks, rides,
clowns, music, food and more. The fair will take place July 3-8 at Tamanend
Park Ballfield, 6-11 p.m. Fourth of July festivities will include a parade (9:30
a.m. at Jaymor Road and Second Street Pike) and a concert and fireworks at Klinger
Middle School. Admission to the Fourth of July concert costs $7, $1 under 12.
Parking costs $2 and ride bands cost $31 (good for all eight days). For information,
call (215) 355-7551. On the Web: www.southamptondays.com - Fonthill Museum in
Doylestown, Pa., will salute America with an old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration
July 4 from noon-5 p.m. The day will be packed with family-oriented events
such as a decorated bike parade, pony rides, sack races and a watermelon-eating
contest. Visitors will experience turn-of-the-century activities, including stilt-walking,
wheelbarrow races, a tug of war and a demonstration of Town Ball, a 19th-century
precursor to baseball. The day also will feature patriotic and traditional music.
For information, call (215) 348-9461. - Lionel Richie will wrap up Sunoco’s eight-day Welcome
America Festival with the free Sweet Sounds of Liberty Concert, July
4, 8:30-11 p.m. at 26th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia.
The show, the last of the celebration’s 11 concerts, also will feature 2004 American
Idol winner Fantasia Barrino. For information, call (800) 537-7676. On the Web:
www.americasbirthday.com - Newtown’s First Fourth festivities
will take place July 8 in Newtown, Pa. The fun will start with a 5K Run
for Sight and a 5K fun walk at 7:30 a.m. A bike-decorating contest will take place
at 9:30 a.m. at Roberts Nursery, followed by a parade through the streets of Newtown
Borough from 10:30 a.m.-noon. The parade will end with special ceremonies honoring
the pre-Revolutionary and American flags at Court Inn. The ceremony will feature
a Revolutionary War-era reading of the Declaration of Independence and an appearance
by Benjamin Franklin. The family fare will start at 4:30 p.m. at Newtown Middle
School with a Revolutionary War encampment, an RC Airplane Show, food, games,
face painting and more, all capped by fireworks. For information, call (215) 880-6993.
On the Web: www.newtownsfirstfourth.com
Anthony Stoeckert and Jessica Emili