Fireworks, festivities set for Amherst Fourth
By Phyllis Lehrer
Staff Writer
Published on June 27, 2008
The country's birthday will be celebrated in Amherst with parades and fireworks, music and games.
Residents can view two parades on the Fourth of July. The annual South Amherst parade will be held at 10 a.m. on the South Amherst Common with decorated bikes, floats and costumed marchers. The parade still needs musicians to set the pace, according to organizer Jeanne Esposito. She said volunteer performers should arrive at 9 a.m.
The Amherst July 4th Parade Committee will hold its parade at 3 p.m. beginning at the intersection of South Pleasant Street and Route 9, proceeding through downtown and ending at Triangle Street.
It will feature police and fire vehicles from the area, as well as horses and marching bands. Those interested in participating should call Kevin Joy at 256-3753.
Amherst's Leisure Services and Supplemental Education Department will sponsor its 40th Independence Day celebration July 4 starting at 5 p.m. on the athletics fields just west of the University of Massachusetts Alumni Stadium.
"This is guaranteed to be the best one yet," said Linda Chalfant, LSSE director, citing food, live music and the fireworks display by Atlas PyroVision Productions from Jaffrey, N.H.
A children's carnival will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. with old-fashioned games of chance. Children ages 3 to 8 will particularly enjoy this area, she said.
After the carnival winds down, the children's candy hay hunt will begin with a search for candy in a specially prepared haystack. The event includes old-fashioned field races for all ages, hot-air balloon rides, a climbing rock wall and bounce house. Members of the A-2-Z Yo-Yo team will show off their skills. Hoopoe the Clown will perform silent pantomime comedy, movement illusions, sleight of hand magic tricks and balloon wizardry starting at 7 p.m.
A pie-eating contest with Atkins Farms blueberry pies will begin at 8 p.m., followed by a bubble gum blowing challenge. Participants should register before 8 p.m. for a slot.
Described as jazz-infused R&B and funk, the Leah Randazzo Group, a septet with vocals, rhythm and horns and voted best Jazz in the Pioneer Valley for two years in a row, will perform on the main stage at 6:30 p.m.
The Amherst Community Band, conducted by William Venman, will perform a wide selection of musical favorites at 8:15 p.m. with a short intermission at 8:45 p.m. The band ends with a rendition of "Stars and Stripes Forever" that segues to the opening barrage of fireworks at about 9:30 p.m.
Chalfant said food vendors will offer fried dough, pizza, french fries, hamburgers, hot dogs and Ben and Jerry's ice cream.
The PVTA is providing special transportation to the event on July 4, right to the front of the UMass Alumni Stadium. Buses will take riders back about 20 minutes after the event.
For the schedule, visit www.lsse.org, under "special events," or call the special events line at 259-3067.
If the weather is iffy, Chalfant said residents should check the LSSE Web site, call the special events line or visit the town's Web site, www.amherstma.gov. In addition, the reverse 911 line will be used to call residents if the event is postponed.
The rain date is July 6. The fireworks were held last year despite the rain.
The event needs 40 volunteers and welcomes more to help with preparations before, during and after July 4. Volunteers should call 259-3065.
She said the pressure is still on for fundraising to support the Independence Day Celebration.
Tax deductible contributions, payable to Amherst Fireworks Fund, can be sent to LSSE, 70 Boltwood Walk, Amherst, MA 01002.
