Updated Tuesday at 9:06 a.m.
In Vermont’s biggest city, “Burlington’s Independence Day Celebration is back!” its municipal website booms of the state’s largest fireworks show.
In the capital of Montpelier, the festivities that usually draw up to 15,000 people to the Statehouse lawn will wait until next year.
And in small towns like Bristol, locals who initially canceled parades and programs due to the pandemic are cobbling together last-minute substitutes that require less preparation time and money.
The Green Mountain State will or won’t publicly wave the red, white and blue this Fourth of July, depending on where Vermonters find themselves over the long holiday weekend.
“Events require many months of planning and careful coordination,” explained Montpelier organizers, who learned of the state’s lifting of Covid-19 precautions only two weeks ago.
The capital is just one of many communities that, facing long-expired deadlines to raise money and finalize permits, announced this spring they wouldn’t hold their traditional parades and fireworks.
“We are all greatly disappointed, as we know you are, too,” volunteers in Wardsboro, population 717, said in canceling what would have been their town’s 72nd annual commemoration.
But other municipalities have figured out ways to hold public celebrations, although not as elaborately as in past years. Among those advertising events online:
Bennington’s “Hometown Fourth of July” on Sunday, July 4, will run from 4:30 p.m. until fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Brandon’s 44th annual celebration on Saturday, July 3, will begin with a parade at 10 a.m. and end with fireworks at 9 p.m.
Brattleboro’s “By the People: Brattleboro Goes Fourth” observance will feature local personality Alfred Hughes Jr. riding in the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance’s new “Bloom” flower truck on Sunday, July 4, at 12:30 p.m.
Brownsville’s celebration on Saturday, July 3, will include a parade at 1 p.m. and fireworks at dusk.
Colchester’s 50th annual celebration on Sunday, July 4, will begin with a parade at 10 a.m. and end with fireworks at dusk.
Derby’s parade will take place Saturday, July 3, at 10 a.m.
East Corinth’s parade and chicken barbecue takes place on Sunday, July 4, starts at corner of Main Street and the fairgrounds at 10 a.m.
Essex Junction’s celebration on Sunday, July 4, will feature food and live music at the Champlain Valley Exposition at 6 p.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Fairlee’s shared celebration with neighboring Orford, New Hampshire, on Sunday, July 4, will include a parade at 11 a.m. and fireworks at dusk.
Greensboro’s “Funky Fourth” will feature fireworks on Friday, July 2, at dusk and a parade on Saturday, July 3, at 10 a.m.
Hartland’s Old Home Day on Sunday, July 4, will include a parade at 11 a.m. and fireworks at 9 p.m.
Jeffersonville’s celebration on Sunday, July 4, will feature a “Super Heroes” parade of teachers, nurses and frontline workers at 10 a.m.
Ludlow’s fireworks will take place Sunday, July 4, at 6:30 p.m.
Milton’s celebration on Sunday, July 4, will begin with a parade at 11 a.m. and end with fireworks at 9 p.m.
Mount Snow’s fireworks will take place Saturday, July 3, at dusk.
Newport’s fireworks will take place Sunday, July 4, at 9:30 p.m.
Peacham’s “July Fourth Weekend 2021” will begin with fireworks on Friday, July 2, and end with festivities on Sunday, July 4.
Poultney’s celebration on Sunday, July 4, will feature a parade at 11 a.m. and fireworks at dusk.
Randolph will “Celebrate our Community Heroes” on Saturday, July 3, with a parade at 10 a.m. and fireworks at dusk.
Rutland City’s fireworks on Sunday, July 4, will launch from the Vermont State Fairgrounds at 9:45 p.m.
Saxtons River’s celebration on Sunday, July 4, will feature community bell-ringing at 9:30 a.m.
Stowe’s “Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration” on Sunday, July 4, will include a parade at noon and fireworks at dusk.
Strafford’s celebration on Saturday, July 3, will feature a parade at 11 a.m., a “Fabulous Frog Jumping and Happiest Hopper Contest” at noon, and a chicken dinner at 5 p.m.
Stratton Mountain’s Fourth of July weekend will include fireworks on Saturday, July 3, at 9:30 p.m.
Sugarbush’s celebration on Sunday, July 4, will feature live music at 7:30 p.m. and fireworks at 9 p.m.
Warren’s “72nd-almost-consecutive-year” event on Sunday, July 4, will begin with a “Heroes Among Us” parade at 10 a.m. and fireworks at dusk.
Williston’s celebration on Saturday, July 3, will include a parade at 10 a.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Woodstock’s celebration on Sunday, July 4, will begin with festivities at 6 p.m. and end with fireworks at dusk.
And Woodsville and Wells River’s celebration on Sunday, July 4, will feature a parade at 11 a.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m.
