Find Fourth of July fun at one of these community gatherings in Chittenden County
From the big fireworks display at Burlington's waterfront to small town celebrations and parades, Chittenden County residents will have plenty of choices for how to spend their Fourth of July holiday.
Burlington's fireworks show will take place a day early on Monday, July 3. Other towns' festivities begin over the weekend. Here are the community celebrations in Chittenden County.
Burlington: July 3 fireworks and family-friendly fun
Burlington's Fourth of July bash will take place a day early on Monday night at Waterfront Park. See the biggest Vermont fireworks display of the year over the lake.
Details:
5-11 p.m., July 3 at the Waterfront.
Food vendors including South End Sliders, Ben and Jerry's, Broccoli Bar, Maudite Poutine, Church Street Cheesesteaks and other local favorites.
Live music from local groups: Afro-Brazilian percussion band Sambatucada! and cover band The Motts.
Colchester: Parade, 5K, music and fireworks
Colchester has a packed Fourth of July schedule. All events will take place on July 4.
Details:
Parade: Colchester's Fourth of July parade starts at 10 a.m. at Colchester High School. It will go down Blakely Road and end at Lavigne Road. Roads will be closed for about one hour.
5K run: The 5K Fun Run begins at Union Memorial School at 8:15 a.m. Registration is 7:30-8 a.m.
Evening family fun at Bayside Park: From 5-9 p.m. there will be inflatables and food vendors at Bayside Park. Live music from local band The Hitmen starts at 6:45 p.m. and ends at 8:45 p.m.
Fireworks: At dusk, fireworks will be set off at Bayside Softball Field. Spectators can park at Colchester High School, Colchester Middle School and the Malletts Bay School.
Essex Junction: Celebration at the fairgrounds
Essex Junction is taking its party to the Champlain Valley Fairgrounds' Midway Lawn. Kids will enjoy activities including face painting, inflatables and balloon artists. A 4-mile run will also take place earlier in the day at Maple Street Park.
Details:
4 on the 4th Independence Day Community Run: The 4-mile run begins at 8:30 a.m. at Maple Street Park. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m.
Family-friendly celebration: 6-10:30 p.m., July 4 at the Champlain Valley Fairgrounds' Midway Lawn:
Face painting, balloon artists, mini golf, games, mini train rides and more.
Food vendors serving up a variety of fair food, brisket and pulled pork sandwiches, veggie fajitas, tacos and nachos, Italian ice, kettle corn and strawberry shortcake.
Live music from local band Sticks and Stones.
Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Williston: A weekend of activities
Williston is going all out for Fourth of July with their three-day schedule of events including the town band concert, an ice cream social and a library book sale, not to mention a parade and fireworks.
Details:
5K run/walk: The Deb Beckett Memorial 5K Race/Walk will take place July 1 at Williston Village Community Park. The kids run will begin at 8 a.m., walkers will begin at 8:15 and runners will begin at 8:45 a.m.
Book sale: The Friends of the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library Book Sale will take place from 4-6 p.m., July 3 and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. July 4 at Williston Central School.
Ice cream social and town band concert: This duo of events will happen at 6:30 p.m., July 3 on the Village Green.
Parade: The parade will begin at 10 a.m., July 4 at Johnson's Farm and go down U.S. 2 to Old Stage Road.
Fourth of July daytime activities:
Activities from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on the Village Green.
Stovepipe Corners Schoolhouse open house put on by the historical society from 9-10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on the Village Green .
Fire department open house from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Williston Fire Department.
Fourth of July evening activities: Food trucks, activities and live music featuring the Northern Comfort band from 6-9 p.m. at the Village Community Park.
Fireworks: 9:20 p.m. at the Village Community Park.
Richmond: A very musical Fourth
From the community band performance at noon to an afternoon of live music to the karaoke contest in the evening, Richmond residents are in for a music-filled day. All are welcome to participate in the karaoke contest, not just town residents.
Details:
Fun run: 10:30 a.m.
Parade: 10:35 a.m.
Richmond Community Band performance: Noon
Live music: Bands begin performing at 1:30 p.m. A new band will perform every hour.
Karaoke contest: 6 p.m.
Fireworks: Dusk
Milton: Parade, park celebration and fireworks
Milton residents can enjoy the classic pleasures of a parade and town gathering at the park this year with food, music and activities to look forward to.
Details:
Parade: The parade will begin at 24 Herrick Ave. at 11 a.m., July 4, and wind its way to Bombardier Park West. A full map can be found here: http://bit.ly/2Xq6JcY
Park celebration: Live music, mini golf and food trucks from 5-10 p.m. at Bombardier Park West.
Fireworks: Approximately 9:30 p.m. at Bombardier Park West.
Shelburne Museum: A jazzy Fourth with the VSO and Ray Vega
If town gatherings don't interest you, check out the concert at Shelburne Museum on July 4 featuring the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and jazz trumpeter Ray Vega. Hear tunes from Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Thelonious Monk, George Gershwin, John Philip Sousa, Johnny Mandel and others.
Details:
Adult tickets bought in advance are $28, tickets bought at the gate are the following: $35 for adults, $5 for kids 5-17, and free for kids under 5.
Gates open at 5:30 p.m., concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
Shelburne Museum, 6000 Shelburne Road, Shelburne
Contact Urban Change Reporter Lilly St. Angelo at lstangelo@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @lilly_st_ang.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Burlington fireworks: Fourth of July in Chittenden County
