Fourth of July Celebrations Around the Lakes Region

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

The Fourth of July is fun. Adults love it and so do kids. Whether you are celebrating the holiday from your Lakes Region boat, deck, cottage or year-round home, this is the place to be for fireworks, parades and concerts for good, old-fashioned fun. Celebrate the birth of our country at these many holiday events.

Celebrate America at the 4th of July Weekend Craft Fair at Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford on July 2 and 3. Hours are Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm both days. There will be over 90 exhibitors with such items as handsome cedar wood furniture, hand painted glass/metal/wood/mushrooms, resin art, gourmet oils and vinegars, chocolate truffles, pressed floral art, NH maple syrups, hand poured soaps, soy candles, several jewelry styles, quilts and quilted wall-hangings, homemade blueberry sauces, charcuterie boards, children’s chalkboard mats, pet portraits, unique macramé furniture, alpaca products, wildlife photography, custom signs, amazing baked goods, and more. There also will be live music with North River. The fair takes place rain or shine under canopies. Admission and parking are free. Friendly, leashed dogs are welcome. Call Joyce at 387-1510. Gunstock is located at 719 Cherry Valley Road in Gilford.

Center Harbor starts the holiday with the Annual Footrace on July 4; register starting at 7:15 am in front of Town Hall at 36 Main Street. For questions and registration information, email parksandrecreation@centerharbornh.org.

Later in the day in downtown Center Harbor, see the town’s parade at 2 pm, with a theme of “All American BBQ.” The parade line-up is at Chase Circle in the downtown Center Harbor area at 1:30 pm. Enjoy wonderful fireworks over the harbor at 9:15 pm, after a 7 pm concert at the town bandstand. Visit www.centerharbornh.org. for details.

Many people say Ashland has the best fireworks display around. The town celebrates Independence Day with this year’s theme of “Live Free or Die”. The festivities kick off on July 2 with a movie in Ashland’s park at 8:30 pm. On July 3 there will be a Freedom 5K Race with 7 am registration at Todd Randlett Trucking located at 382 N. Main Street in Ashland; the road race starts at 8 am. From 2 to 5 pm, there will be Touch a Truck at the Freudenbrg lot and a live broadcast by Mix 94.1 FM. Bring your appetite to a Food Truck Festival from 2 to 5 pm at the Ball Field and from 4 to 9:30 pm there will be a concert at the park. (Get race information and registration at Ashland NH Independence Day Celebration on Facebook.) The day ends with fireworks on July 3 at 9:30 pm. 

On July 4 there will be the annual pancake breakfast at 7 am at the Common Man Restaurant on Main Street in Ashland, and the parade starts at 10 am. If you plan to be in the parade, arrive at the Ashland Fire Station on Mill Street between 8 and 9:30 am. The parade begins at 10 am and ends at LW Packard Ball Field. After the parade there will be a flag raising ceremony by the American Legion. A cookout will be offered from 9 to 11:30 am at the Ashland Community Church. Visit Ashland NH Independence Day Celebration on Facebook for more information.

Laconia’s celebration will be on July 3 with a Laconia Independence Day Celebration at Opechee Park on North Main Street. There will be events during the day and evening with family games, live concert music, and an evening fireworks display. 

Laconia will also have a parade on July 3 starting at 4:30 pm from Laconia High School on Union Avenue and ending at Opechee Park. Call the Laconia Parks and Recreation Department for details at 524-0521.

Hop aboard the M/S Mount Washington on the Independence Day Dinner Cruise on July 4 from 7 to 10 pm. Enjoy a dinner buffet and patriotic entertainment while the Mount takes in fireworks around Lake Winnipesaukee. The cruise takes place rain or shine. For more information and reservations, call 366-5531 or visit www.cruisenh.com. 

Moultonborough has an outdoor concert on July 6 with Tom Bartlett at the Moultonborough Function Hall Gazebo located at 139 Old Rt. 109 at 6 pm. The concert is free, and everyone is welcome. Bring a picnic meal and a lawn chair and enjoy the music. 

If you like books and dream of being in a place where you can find books galore, head to the Moultonborough Public Library’s Summer Book Sale with a preview on July 8 from 6 to 8 pm. The sale will run on July 9 and 10 from 9 am to 3 pm. The library is located on Holland Street. Call 476-8895.

Alton Bay is a great place to take in the fireworks. On July 3 come early for a concert at the bandstand by the water in Alton Bay (bring a lawn chair for seating). The concert will feature the Thursday Afternoon Band playing classic and modern rock music from 7 to 9 pm. Fireworks light up the sky on July 3 beginning at 9:20 pm and are quite a beautiful sight. (Fireworks rain date is July 7.) Call 875-0109.

Wolfeboro’s Independence Day celebrations begin with a Boat Parade on July 1 at 5 pm in Wolfeboro Bay; call Goodhue Boat Company for information at 569-2371.

On July 1, the Wildlife Adventures Animal Show takes place at 2 pm at the Wolfeboro Library on South Main Street in Wolfeboro. The Wooden Nickels Band plays in Cate Park from 5 to 9 pm. Visit www.facebook.com/Wolfeboros-4th-of-July-Festival for information.

July 2 brings a 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament from 9 am to 9 pm at Foss Field, sponsored by Kingswood Athletics in Wolfeboro. 

The Wolfeboro Lion’s Car Show will be held on July 2 from 11 am to 2 pm at The Nick, 10 Trotting Track Road in Wolfeboro. The event will be a lot of fun, with free admission. It is a no-classes, non-judged show and all cars and motorcycles are welcome. Also offered at the show will be concessions and a food truck, 50/50 raffle, and door prizes for participants. Call 651-6598 for details.

On July 3, bring your appetite to the Masonic Lodge Breakfast Buffet from 7 to 11 am at the Morning Star Lodge #17. The lodge is located at 35 Trotting Track Road in Wolfeboro. Call 569-4637 for information. Music will play at 2 pm and 4 pm at the Cate Park bandstand in Wolfeboro sponsored by End 68 Hours of Hunger. 

The Fourth of July in Wolfeboro kicks off with a Reading of the Declaration of Independence by Jon Shaer at 10 am on the Town Hall steps. 

Wolfeboro’s big parade on July 4 starts with a 10 am line-up at Old Lakeview Terrace and proceeds down Main Street to Crescent Lake Avenue. The rain date for the parade is July 5 at 10 am. (On July 4, there will be no parking along Main Street from Clark Road to Old Lakeview Terrace between 7 am and noon for the purpose of the Independence Day parade.)

Fireworks will light up the sky on July 4 at dusk over Wolfeboro Bay. Before the fireworks, enjoy the Cate Park Band from 6 to 9 pm in the Cate Park bandstand. 

Ongoing weekend events in Wolfeboro include festival headquarters at Dewolfe Field, Brewster Academy near downtown Wolfeboro with information about all happenings. A Girl Scout Troop #2271 Story Book walk is free and offers a self-guided walk along Bridge Falls Path to the Wright Museum. An art show by Governor Wentworth Arts Council will take place from June 27 to July 6 and is free. The show will be at the Wolfeboro Inn at 90 North Main Street in Wolfeboro. A Ladies of the Lake Quilting Guild Quilt Show will be held from July 1 to 3 and is free at Wolfeboro Town Hall’s Great Hall. A free, self-guided Wolfeboro Parks and Recreation scavenger hunt will have directions available at the Wolfeboro Town Hall, and at Parks and Recreation and Legion Festival Headquarters. The Abenaki Water Ski Club will practice daily in Back Bay, weather permitting from 8 am to 1 pm and at 4 pm/sunset each day.

Call 569-2200 for details or www.wolfeboronh.us/parks-recreation.

The town of Wakefield has a fun Fourth of July event planned for July 2 at the Wakefield Ballpark Complex at 1488 Wakefield Road. The celebration runs from 6 to 10 pm, with fireworks in the evening. For information, call Wakefield Parks and Recreation at 522-9977.

Bristol will present a number of July 4 events, with a theme of “Celebrate Country Living”, starting on July 2 with a boat parade at the foot of Newfound Lake at 1:30 pm with prizes. Boat line up is 1 pm.

Also on July 2, fireworks at light up the sky at dusk at the foot of Newfound Lake. 

On July 4, a Firecracker 5K Road Race starts with 8 am registration in Bristol. At 8:30 am, the road race begins. (Get race information at www.newfoundfitnessnh.com.) The 4th of July parade will start at 10 am in the downtown area. 

On July 5, the Bristol Summer Concert Series will feature the Morgan Nelson band at 6:30 pm in Kelley Park. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for seating. There will be refreshments by Bristol Fire Company. For all event information visit www.townofbristolnh.org.

The 4th of July in Meredith promises to entertain with the famous Rubber Ducky Race at 4 pm at the Mill Falls Marketplace in downtown Meredith, where you can try your luck at winning a prize. Call 527-8114 for race details. Fireworks light up the night sky over Meredith Bay at 9:15 pm on July 4. Call the Meredith Chamber of Commerce at 279-6121.

Weirs Beach will have fireworks at 11:59 pm on July 3. Spend the evening at Weirs Beach for music, food and fun all over the boardwalk area. 

Ossipee will hold the town’s annual Old Home Week (which kicked off on June 25). An Evening with Spirit Mediums Sara Moore and Kathleen Stone from 7 to 8:30 pm on June 27. Tickets for the Spirit event will go fast so please purchase and get information at 539-1307.

Corn Hole Games will be June 28 at 6 pm at the gazebo in Center Ossipee. Call 339-222-1548 for information.

On June 29, an Ice Cream Social at the gazebo in Center Ossipee will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. This is a free event, but donations will be accepted. June 30 will bring a talent show to the gazebo in Center Ossipee at 6 pm. The event is free, and if there is rain, it will move to Ossipee Town Hall. 

At Ossipee Town Hall on July 1, the entire family will enjoy Wild Encounters at 5:30 pm. The event is free of charge.

Get together with friends and family on July 2 at the Ossipee Area Community Center, located at 26 Moultonville Road in Center Ossipee from 11 am to 4 pm for a family picnic/barbecue and games. The event is free.

 Ossipee’s July 4 starts with a parade at 10 am, followed by music and fireworks in Constitution Park from 6 to 10 pm. The rain date is July 5. For details on events, visit www.ossipee.org.

If you love the mountains, head to Waterville Valley for 4th of July fun. On July 2, there will be live music with Rhythm Method Trio from noon to 3 pm at the Town Square gazebo, and more music from 6 to 9 pm with Diversity Duo. Bring everyone to the Family Carnival on July 2 from 11 am to 3 pm at Packard’s Field for inflatables, music, relay races, a dunk tank, tie dye, mini-golf and more. The event is held rain or shine. 

On July 4, Waterville Valley will have a parade at 11 am, and festivities during the day. Live music and 4th of July fireworks end the celebration. Visit www.waterville.com for details.

Tamworth Family Day happens on the 4th of July in Tamworth Village starting at 8:30 am for a day of celebration and activities for people of all ages organized by the Tamworth Recreation Department, the Family Day committee, the Cook Library and Tamworth Distillery.

First up is the Cook Library’s Ordination Rock 5K race on July 4. You can get information by calling 323-8510 or register from 7 to 8 am on the day of the race at the Brett School. The race begins at 8:30 am at Ordination Rock and goes through the village.

The Annual Tamworth 4th of July Parade starts at 11 am at Depot Road, and will go through Tamworth Village. 

Following the parade, the village will be full of fun things to do. The Starlight Honeys will play music behind the Tamworth Distillery from noon to 2 pm. Games and activities for kids will run from 11:45 am to 2 pm in Remick Park, to the right of the Congregational Church, with an obstacle course, face painting, art projects, bubbles, and water play.

Games for all ages on the History Center lawn will include ping pong, badminton, corn hole, and more. Group games will happen on the long lawn behind the Distillery, including an egg toss, silly races, Ultimate Frisbee and more. In front of The Barnstormers Theatre, you can have your fortune told by Marion & Miranda Posner. Food vendors will offer burgers and hot dogs, ice cream sandwiches, lemonade, popcorn, fried dough and more in front of Remick Park. Activity schedules will be available during and after the parade.

Come back in the evening to the Brett School for a concert by the Jonathan Sarty Band at 7 pm, with food vendors, and fireworks at 9:30 pm.

For more information or if you’d like to help out on the 4th, email Tamworth Recreation Department Director Dan Beauregard at tamworthrec@gmail.com or call 677-6490. You can also contact Amy Carter at amy@tamworthlibrary.org or phone 323-2392.

At the NH Farm Museum, history abounds, and an old-fashioned 4th of July offers fun for the entire family. The museum is located at 1305 White Mountain Highway/Rt. 125 in Milton. The farm has a historic farmhouse, barn, gift shop and farm animals.

The Farm Museum has a Fourth on the Farm event on July 2 from 10 am to 4 pm. The day will feature a reading of the Declaration of Independence, strawberry shortcake, old-time craft demos and more. Call 652-7840.

Whether you’re taking in a celebratory 4th of July parade, watching the colorful firework explosions in the night sky, or enjoying a bandstand concert, there’s no better place to be on Independence Day than in the Lakes Region.