Bang Up Fourth of July Celebrations

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

Whether you are celebrating the holiday from your boat, deck, cottage, or year-round home, the Lakes Region is the place to be for fireworks, parades, concerts, and good, old-fashioned fun.

Alton Bay is a great place to take in the fireworks. Come early on July 3 for a concert at the bandstand by the water in Alton Bay (bring a lawn chair for seating). The concert runs from 7 to 9 pm and features Dakota Smart. Fireworks light up the sky beginning at 9:20 pm (rain date July 5) and are quite a beautiful sight. Call 603-875-0109.

Weirs Beach offers fireworks throughout the summer, and the display to celebrate the 4th of July will be beautiful. On Wednesday, July 3 at 10 pm, fireworks will burst over the sky at Weirs Beach, with sponsorship going to the city of Laconia and the Weirs Action Committee. For a schedule of further fireworks, visit www.weirsbeachfireworks.com for updates.

Laconia is celebrating Independence Day with events on July 4 at Opechee Park at 915 North Main Street. The day includes an Independence Day Parade, with line-up at 3:30 pm at Laconia High School on Union Avenue. The parade starts at 4:30 pm and ends at Opechee Park.

Also on July 4 at Opechee Park, there will be food, music, games, and more. The day ends with fireworks at the park at 10 pm. Call the Laconia Parks and Recreation Department for details at 603-524-0521.

Center Harbor starts the holiday off with Children’s Footraces on July 4, starting at 9 am. At 10 am, there will be a 1.776-mile and a five-mile foot race. For questions and registration information, email parksandrecreation@centerharbornh.org.

Later in the day, in downtown Center Harbor, celebrate with the town’s parade. Participants will step off at Chase Circle in the downtown area at 1 pm. Enjoy wonderful fireworks over Center Harbor Bay at dusk. Before the fireworks, there will be a 7 pm concert with the Center Harbor Town Band at the town bandstand. Visit https://www.centerharbornh.gov/ for further details.

If you like a good book sale, head to the Nichols Library Annual Book Sale in Center Harbor on July 4, for a chance to get some books. The sale will start at 8:30 am. The library is located at 35 Plymouth St., Center Harbor; call 603-253-6950 or visit www.centerharborlibrary.org.

Also at the Nichols Library, a program titled Redcoats & Rebels: New Hampshire and the American Revolution will take place on July 5 at 7 pm. It is free to attend, but please contact the library to pre-register by Friday, July 3 at 603-253-6950 or email centerharborlibrary@gmail.com.

Before the presentation, stop by for the Pie Potluck on the lawn of the Nichols Library (on July 5) from 6 to 7 pm. Bring a pie to share and join in the fun!

Many people say that Ashland has the best fireworks display in the area. The town celebrates Independence Day from July 3 to 5. The schedule kicks off on July 3 at the Ashland Ballfield from 4 to 9:30 pm lots of activities. There will be a Historical Society Exhibit in the Booster Club, a Food Truck Festival, a bounce house, rock wall, bungee jumping, and games from Vertical Entertainment, a 50/50 raffle, and a concert in the park with Chris White, Red Daisy Revival, Peter Downing and Rock the Park. At 9:30 pm, the National Anthem will be sung by Lucy Alexander and Blair Farris, followed by fireworks.

On Independence Day, July 4, the popular pancake breakfast at the Common Man runs from 7:30 to 10 am. The rousing parade will kick off at 10 am and travel from the fire station to the ballfield.  The Historical Society Exhibit continues at the Booster Club at the ballfield. In the ballfield, there will also be a community kickball game with ice cream from the 4th of July Committee.

On July 5 in Ashland, a 5K race has registration at the Ashland Town Beach at 11 am, with the race starting at 9 am. At 11 am, a fun If It Floats race at the Ashland Town Beach will be a lot of fun, with other swim races held as well.

For information on Ashland’s events, email julyfourth@ashland.nh.gov.

Gilmanton will have a fun parade on July 4 in the downtown area. For information, email info@gilmanton4th.com.

If you like a good parade, head to Moultonborough for the 4th of July celebrations. This year’s theme is “Happy Birthday America!” The parade will kick off at 11 am on July 4. The parade lines up at 10:15 am at Blake Road and will proceed along Rt. 25 and conclude at the Moultonborough Function Hall at 139 Old Rt. 109 with a free community barbecue and trophy presentation. For information, email kathygarry76@gmail.com.

On July 2 in Wolfeboro, there will be the ringing of the town’s bell cast by Paul Revere. The bell ringing will be at 4 pm.

Wolfeboro’s parade is on July 4 and starts at 10 am. It is themed “We the People Celebrate Our Independence 1776-2026,” and is sponsored by the American Legion Post #18. The parade will go down Main Street, offering all kinds of floats and participants in costume. (The rain date for the fireworks and parade is July 5 at 10 am.) Fireworks over Wolfeboro Bay will begin at about 9:30 pm. Call 603-569-2200. The rain date for both the parade and fireworks is July 5.

If you love classic (and other) cars, be at the Annual Car Show at the Nick on July 5 from 11 am to 2 pm. The Nick Recreation Park is located at 10 Trotting Track Road off Rt. 28 in Wolfeboro. The car show is presented by the Wolfeboro Lions Club and is a free and fun rain or shine event. Visit www.wolfeborochamber.com for details.

Bristol will present a number of 4th of July events, starting with the Newfound Firecracker 5K Road Race with 8:30 am registration, followed by the race beginning at 10 am. The race starts at the far end of Kelley Park near the Newfound Middle School. Visit www.newfoundfirecracker5K.org. for more information.

A parade will start at 10 am on July 4 in downtown Bristol with a theme of “America’s 250th Anniversary.” Plans are to hold the parade, whether rain or shine, unless extreme bad weather cancels. Visit www.bristolnh.gov for information. After the parade, stop by the Bristol Fire Department at 85 Lake Street for an open house.

In Meredith, a fun Rubber Duck Race presented by the Meredith Lions Club happens on July 4 at 4 pm. Ticket sales for the event are available until 3:30 pm. The rubber ducks are spilled from a hopper in back of the Mill Falls waterfall and travel into the lake. Once the winning duck is determined, participants gather at Hesky Park in Meredith. The winning first prize will be $1,000. Email keylion03@gmail.com for information.

The Fourth of July will be full of fun in Ossipee, starting with a parade themed “America 250 – Honoring Those Who Served Our Town and Country.” Parade line-up is at 10 am at the intersection of Dorrs Corner Rd. and Moultonville Rd. Visit www.occnh.org for information.

If you love the mountains, head to Waterville Valley for a full day of 4th of July entertainment. On July 4, there will be a parade at 11 am with floats and fun. Line-up for the parade will be at 10:30 am at the Waterville Valley Conference Center parking lot. Call 603-236-4695.

A Family Carnival will be fun for families at Packard’s Field on Packard’s Rd. from noon to 3:30 pm. There will be inflatables, music, races, a dunk tank, min golf, a food truck, and more.

Waterville Valley offers live music in the Town Square Gazebo on July 4 with the Birch Hill Duo from 1 to 4 pm and the Dave Ayotte Band from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Enjoy the music from the beach, courtyard, or while boating on Corcoran Pond.

Fireworks over Corcoran Pond in Waterville Valley start at 9:30 pm on July 4th, best viewed from Town Square. For all these events and more, visit www.waterville.com.

Tamworth has many things planned for the holiday of the 4th of July, beginning with the Ordination Rock Run & 5K starting at 7 am, hosted by the Tamworth Outing Club. This race is an annual favorite; visit www.ordinationrockrun.com for details and registration information.

At the NH Farm Museum, history abounds, and an old-fashioned 4th of July offers fun for the entire family. On July 4, the Fourth on the Farm is just what the name says: a great day of family fun to celebrate. From 10 am to 4 pm, stop by for strawberry shortcake, an ice cream-making demonstration, house tours, and a special display of American flags from the late 1700s to mid 1800s. There will be many more activities offered as well. The featured musician will be banjo player Bob Kilham.

The NH Farm Museum is located at 1305 White Mt. Highway in Milton. Call 603-652-7840 or visit www.nhfarmmuseum.org.

Cruise aboard the M/S Mount Washington for the Independence Day Dinner Cruise on July 4. Enjoy dinner while the Mount cruises around Lake Winnipesaukee in search of fireworks. For more information and reservations, call 603-366-5531 or visit www.cruisenh.com. The cruise sets off from Weirs Beach.

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