With July 4th falling on a Tuesday this year, many people will have a four-day weekend to mark America’s Independence Day. Here’s a sampling of some events taking place in the region. See pages 5, 8, 9 for more happenings this weekend and beyond.
Car Cruise, Parade, Flag Raising
Tues., 7/4. It all starts at Fairhaven High School, 12 Huttleston Avenue, Fairhaven. Gather for flag raising 8:30 a.m., Depart 9:00 a.m. Floats & marchers gather at Cushman Park.
Classic and antique cars and vehicles gather at Fairhaven High School for the raising of the Big Flag. They will then depart to cruise through town, ending with a ride south on Green Street to Fort Phoenix. At Cushman Park a parade of floats and marchers will step off to follow the car cruise to the fort for the annual Independence Day Ceremony. Sponsored by the Fairhaven Lions Club and North Fairhaven Improvement Association, with the Prowlers and the Downshifters car clubs. Free. For more information call John Medeiros at 508-990-0000.
Ceremony & Cannon Salute
Tuesday, July 4, at 10:00 a.m. Fort Phoenix, Fort Street, Fairhaven
At the conclusion of the Car Cruise and Parade, a program will be held at historical Fort Phoenix. The ceremony will feature a brief history of Fort Phoenix, a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Selectboard Chairperson Robert Espindola, and the singing of the National Anthem by Fairhaven High School Class of 2017 graduate Brooke Douglass as the flag is raised. The flag raising will be followed by the firing of the fort’s five 24-pound Seacoast Defense cannons. Sponsored by the Town of Fairhaven and the Fairhaven Village Militia. Free. Handicap parking available. For more information, call 508-979-4085 or email FairhavenTours@fairhaven-ma.gov.
Fireworks
New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell joined with sponsor Hawthorn Medical Associates to announce that Hawthorn will sponsor the City’s 2017 Independence Day fireworks display over New Bedford Harbor. Hawthorn Medical Associates contributed $10,000 to support the fireworks display, continuing a long-standing tradition of company sponsorship of the annual event.
New Bedford’s Fourth of July fireworks display will be staged from a barge located off of State Pier in New Bedford Harbor, beginning at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4. Spectators planning to watch the display in Downtown New Bedford are encouraged to park for free in the Elm Street Garage and Zeiterion Parking Garage.
State Pier will NOT be accessible during the fireworks and there will be no parking on State Pier on the evening of July 4th. Lower Union Street (east of Water Street) will be closed to vehicle traffic and will be the best spot in the Downtown for pedestrians to view the fireworks display.
In addition to Hawthorn Medical Associates, St. Anne’s Credit Union and The New Bedford Whaling Museum are supporting sponsors of the 2017 City of New Bedford Fourth of July Fireworks Display. Tucker Roy Marine Towing & Salvage and AGM Marine Contractors will provide the commercial barge.
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