Forget the calendar: In Vermont, this year’s Fourth of July celebrations are set for Saturday, Sunday, Monday or Tuesday.
And throw out tradition: Fireworks in the past doesn’t mean you’ll see them in the present.
More than 40 cities and towns across the Green Mountain State are ready to celebrate the red, white and blue this long holiday weekend.
Vermont’s biggest city, Burlington, is scheduled to host the state’s largest fireworks show on Monday, July 3, to cap an evening of festivities from 5 to 11 p.m. at Waterfront Park along Lake Champlain.
The state capital of Montpelier will hold its own July 3 celebration — an event that draws up to 15,000 people to the Statehouse lawn — with food trucks and family activities starting Monday at 3 p.m., a mile-long road race and parade at 6 p.m., and fireworks at dark.
But several communities that usually offer fireworks aren’t this year because of rising costs.
Take the Northeast Kingdom town of Danville, home to the local landmark Joe’s Pond. When residents first launched pyrotechnics in 1965, they cost $200. As prices rose, they tapped profits from their annual spring ice-out guessing game. But a potential $12,500 bill this year has proved too much.
“Still to be determined if we can afford them next year,” said Joe Hebert, president of the Joe’s Pond Association.
Nearby Greensboro, population 811, already had concerns about fireworks’ impact on animals and air when it learned its own $6,000 bill was expected to almost double.
“It really strains a budget when you put $10,000 of fire in the sky for 10 minutes,” Greensboro Town Clerk Kim Greaves said. “We decided to do lightning bugs and put money into a free picnic.”
Individual businesses, organizations and attractions are holding activities too numerous to mention. But among Vermont communities promoting free public events:
Barton is set to gather at the Orleans County Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 1, for a tractor pull at 9 a.m., horse pull at 10 a.m. and truck pull at 5 p.m.
Bennington’s program on Tuesday, July 4, will begin with a reading of the Declaration of Independence at 12:30 p.m. at the Bennington Battle Monument and end with fireworks at Willow Park at dark.
Brandon’s 46th annual Independence Day celebration on Saturday, July 1, will include a downtown parade at 10 a.m. and fireworks at dusk.
Brattleboro’s “By the People: Brattleboro Goes Fourth” observance on Tuesday, July 4, will feature a 10 a.m. parade downtown, and an afternoon and evening program of family activities and fireworks at Living Memorial Park.
Bristol’s celebration will begin Monday, July 3, and include fireworks at dusk and continue Tuesday, July 4, with an outhouse race at 9 a.m. and parade at 10:30 a.m.
Brownsville will feature fireworks on Monday, July 3, at dusk and a parade on Tuesday, July 4, at 1:30 p.m.
Cabot is advertising a parade on Tuesday, July 4, at 11 a.m.
Colchester’s observance on Tuesday, July 4, will begin with a parade at 10 a.m. and end with fireworks at dusk.
Corinth’s celebration on Tuesday, July 4, will feature a parade at 10 a.m., followed by a chicken barbecue at the local fairgrounds.
Derby’s parade is scheduled for Tuesday, July 4, at 10 a.m.
Essex Junction’s program on Tuesday, 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 Tuesday, July 4, will include a parade at 11 a.m. and fireworks at dusk.
Greensboro’s “Funky Fourth” on Saturday, July 1, will feature a parade and community picnic at 10 a.m.
Hartford’s celebration on Tuesday, July 4, will include fireworks at dusk at Kilowatt Park in Wilder.
Hartland’s Old Home Day on Tuesday, July 4, will range from a tractor pull at 8 a.m. to a parade at 10 a.m. and fireworks at 9 p.m.
Hinesburg’s program on Tuesday, July 4, will include a parade at 11 a.m. and fireworks at dusk.
Island Pond’s event on Saturday, July 1, will offer a parade at 11 a.m. and fireworks at Lakeside Park at 9:30 p.m.
Jeffersonville’s celebration on Tuesday, July 4, will feature a parade at 10 a.m. and fireworks at Smugglers’ Notch Resort at dusk.
Killington’s event on Tuesday, July 4, will include a parade at 10 a.m. and fireworks at 9 p.m.
Londonderry will hold a celebration at Magic Mountain on Saturday, July 1, featuring an afternoon of live music and evening of fireworks.
Ludlow’s fireworks are scheduled for Sunday, July 2, at dusk.
Milton’s celebration on Tuesday, July 4, will begin with a parade at 11 a.m. and end with fireworks at dusk.
Mount Snow’s fireworks are set for Sunday, July 2, at dusk.
Newport’s fireworks are scheduled for Tuesday, July 4, at 9:30 p.m.
Peacham’s celebration on Tuesday, July 4, will feature a tractor parade at 11 a.m. and festivities until 5 p.m.
Poultney’s celebration will include fireworks on Saturday, July 1, at dusk and a parade on Tuesday, July 4, at 10 a.m.
Randolph will offer fireworks Monday, July 3, at dusk and a parade and festival Tuesday, July 4, at 10 a.m.
Rutland Town’s fireworks on Sunday, July 2, will launch from Northwood Park at dusk.
Saxtons River’s celebration on Monday, July 4, will feature a parade at 9:30 a.m., followed by a street fair.
Stowe’s “Old-Fashioned Fourth of July” on Tuesday, July 4, will include two parades — one in Moscow at 10 a.m. and another on Main Street at noon — and fireworks at dusk.
Strafford’s program on Saturday, July 1, will feature a parade at 11:30 a.m. and Volunteer Fire & Rescue chicken barbecue at 5 p.m.
Stratton Mountain’s Fourth of July weekend will include fireworks on Sunday, July 2, at 9 p.m.
Sugarbush’s four-day celebration will conclude on Tuesday, July 4, with an afternoon and evening of live music leading to fireworks at 9 p.m.
Vershire’s program on Saturday, July 1, will include live music at 7 p.m. and fireworks at dusk.
Wardsboro will hold its 74th annual parade and street fair on Tuesday, July 4, at 9 a.m.
Warren’s “74th-almost-consecutive-year” event on Tuesday, July 4, will feature a parade at 10 a.m. and fireworks at the Sugarbush Resort at dusk.
Williston’s program on Tuesday, July 4, will include a parade at 10 a.m. and fireworks at 9:20 p.m.
Woodstock’s observance on Tuesday, July 4, will begin with festivities at 6 p.m. and end with fireworks at dusk.
And Woodsville and Wells River’s joint celebration on Tuesday, July 4, will feature a parade at 11 a.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m.
