Saxtons River will celebrate Fourth of July

COURTESY
SAXTONS RIVER, Vt. – With the theme of “Celebrating the Arts,” Saxtons River will kick off its annual Independence Day celebration Wednesday, July 4 with a 5K Firecracker road race at 8:30 a.m., followed by a parade at 9:30 a.m.

Grand marshals for the parade will be Margo and Mike Ghia, chosen for Margo’s leadership at Main Street Arts and Mike’s involvement with the youth soccer program at the Saxtons River Recreation Department, according to a press release.

In addition to the race and the parade, the day’s activities include a street fair highlighted by the firefighters’ water polo, a hula hoop contest and music on the bandstand. Miniature golf, an egg toss, a pie contest, face painting and food vendors are also on the schedule. Returning this year will be the World-Famous Musical Chairs contest.

Afternoon activities will move to the Saxtons River Recreation Area and will include swimming, a cornhole game and music for dancing with the Bayou X Cajun / Creole band led by Pete Simoneaux, all topped off with fireworks at dusk. Cotton candy and Glo-stix will be available for sale. The Saxtons River Recreation Department will be selling food.

This year’s T-shirt design by Lisa McNealus features a line drawing of the village’s iconic Saxtons River Historical Society museum surrounded by fireworks. T-shirts will be on sale in front of the Village Market Saturday, June 30 and on the Fourth.

The day’s schedule includes the following:

7:30 a.m. Race registration

8:30 a.m. 5K Firecracker road race

9 a.m. Kids’ bike decorating and parade line up at Vermont Academy

9:30 a.m. Parade

10 a.m. Street fair, games, music on the bandstand, water polo

6:30 p.m. Music for dancing

9:30 p.m. Fireworks

Sponsors for this year’s festivities include Cota & Cota, Savings Bank of Walpole, Saxtons River Inn, Hennessey Electric and Village Square Booksellers.

Information and updates are available at the Saxtons River Fourth of July page on Facebook.