Fourth of July celebrations will stretch across two days, with fireworks on Wednesday, July 2, at Fruitlands Museum, and the other festivities on Friday—including a road race, parade, Boy Scout centennial ceremony, events and refreshments on the Bromfield grounds, and finally, games at the beach for children.
Fireworks
The fireworks will be held Wednesday, July 2, on the grounds of Fruitlands Museum, at 102 Prospect Hill Road. They start at dusk, but gates open at 5 p.m. for beer and wine by Fruitlands under the tent, food from a local purveyor onsite, and the music of Bare Hill Band, No Man’s Land, Background Orcs, Good Cookin, and Alright. Admission is $20 per car, with $10 off the price if an occupant is wearing a 2014 July 4 T-shirt. Admission for walkers is $5 per person, free for children under 12. The raindate for the fireworks is Sunday, July 6.
Great Fourth of July Road Race
The Harvard Road Race Association will sponsor the first event of the day on July 4, beginning with a 5-mile race at 8:15 a.m., followed by a 1-mile children’s fun run at 9:30 a.m. Both events begin at the Hildreth Elementary School, where participants can do same-day registration from 6:30 to 8 a.m. Entry fees are $30 for the 5-mile race, $5 for the Fun Run, with free registration for town employees and runners over age 65. To learn more or register ahead of time, go to www.harvardraces.org. (Note that the Great Road Race is part of the five-race Nashoba Valley Grand Prix; for information about Grand Prix point leaders, go to nvpg.org.)
Fourth of July Parade
The parade, organized by the town’s Fourth of July Committee, will assemble Friday morning at the corner of Depot and Ayer roads, lining up on Depot Road. The parade will begin its march from Depot Road to the center of town about 11 a.m., after the selectmen have judged for “best floats.” Children on their decorated bikes, vintage cars and fire trucks, and Scouts will all be in the parade, with spectators advised to keep an eye peeled for the Boy Scouts’ debut of their new neckerchiefs, designed in celebration of their centennial year.
Flag raising, Boy Scout
centennial celebration
The parade will stop at the field in front of the library, where the traditional flag-raising ceremony will take place. Following that, the Boy Scouts of Troop 1 will head toward the vintage car area, where they will hold their own ceremony celebrating their 100th year as a troop, seal a time capsule, and hear remarks from troop leaders.
Field events, fun, food
Fun and games begin at the Bromfield field as soon as the flag-raising ceremony is done. Organized by the Fourth of July Committee, the events include a pie-eating contest, sack races, greased pole climbing, egg toss, parent-child relays, and more. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from the Harvard Lions Club. And for those who require even more activity, Beach Director Alexandra Luck is planning to offer a few games for children down at the beach after the field events.
