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Our guide covers the Central Jersey counties of Monmouth, Middlesex, Union, Somerset, Mercer and Hunterdon. If you notice that we left out a great celebration that your little town puts on every year, let us know! Here’s our 2009 Guide to the Best 4th of July Fireworks Displays in Central Jersey:
Hunterdon County New Jersey 4th of July Fireworks and Celebrations:
Califon, Hunterdon County
The Califon Fireman’s Carnival or The Califon Fire Company Carnival as it is now known, has been going on for over 70 years. This year the festival runs from June 29 through July 4th. The festival features a wide range of activities and attractions and is a major fundraiser for the fire department. The carnival features all American carnival treats like funnel cakes, hot dogs and soft ice cream. It also features rides, games and raffles. Most importantly for our purposes here, the carnival features two different fireworks displays, one on Wednesday, July 1st and another on Friday, July 3rd. The rain date for the fireworks is on Saturday, July 4th.
Get more info @ The Califon Fire Department Website.
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Frenchtown, Hunterdon County [Erwinna-Bucks County-Pennsylvania] :
This is NOT a New Jersey staged display but it’s a five minute drive over the state line, the music is provided by a New Jersey Symphony and you can watch the display along the banks of the Delaware River in New Jersey. This fireworks extravaganza staged in Tinicum Park in Bucks County Pennsylvania’s is one of my regions most popular events and it is almost always sold out as far as I know. There are only 5,000 tickets available. Light classical, popular and patriotic music is provided by The Riverside Symphonia of Lambertville. [Frenchtown-Milford-Hunterdon County-Central Jersey]
More information @ Concert Under the Stars: Fireworks and Music on the Delaware River
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Flemington, Hunterdon County:
Flemington will celebrate Independence Day on Friday, July 3, 2009 with a concert and fireworks. The concert will feature the a capella singing group Dark and Lauren Price starting at 7:30 PM. This will be followed by one of the largest fireworks displays that Flemington has staged in recent years, starting at 9:15. The festivities will be held on the athletic field of the Reading-Flemington Intermediate School on Capner Street.
Get more information on the community of Flemington @ HistoricFlemington.com
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High Bridge, Hunterdon County:
High Bridge will celebrate our country’s birthday along with the 100th birthday of Lake Solitude Falls. There will be refreshments like popcorn, soda and hot dogs, a country music concert by local musician Billy D. Hunter. There will also be historical tours of the Solitude House. The event starts at noon and runs until 4:00 PM.
Get more information on the community of High Bridge New Jersey
Lebanon, Hunterdon County:
Lebanon New Jersey will celebrate our nation’s birthday on July 4th with the oldest 4th of July Parade in the state. They have been doing this in Lebanon for 62 years now. The parade features a baby and bike parade with prizes for the most patriotic and the best theme. There will also be parade trophies for:
Best Marching Youth Group
Best Theme Float/Unit
Most Entertaining Float/Unit
Best Children’s Float/Unit
Most Patriotic Float or Unit
Best Non-Paid Unit with Music
There will be an antique, classic and vintage car parade with prizes for all types of vehicles and eras. The town will also sponsor a Patriotic House Decorating Contest. After the parade is over there will be a patriotic community celebration at Holjes-Sheppard Memorial Park.
For more information on the Parade, see Lebanon’s Beautiful New 4th of July Parade Website.
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Mercer County New Jersey 4th of July Fireworks and Celebrations:
East Windsor, Mercer County:
East Windsor will celebrate the 4th of July a couple of days early this year. The Independence Day Concert and Fireworks will be held on Thursday, July 2nd from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM at Etra Lake Park on Disbrow Road in East Windsor. The concert features Jerry Rife’s Rhythm Kings Dixieland Jazz Band and the Trenton Brass Quintet Plus One. The fireworks are scheduled to commence at 9:30 PM. The rain date for the festivities is Sunday, July 5th. For more information you can call: 609-443-4000.
Get more info @ The East Windsor NJ Website
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Hamilton, Mercer County:
Hamilton Township’s Independence Day celebration will begin at 6:30 PM on Thursday, July 2nd at Veterans Park on Cowell Soccer Field in Hamilton Township. The celebration begins with a concert featuring the music of the Nerds, a cover band that plays an eclectic mix of soul, classic rock and other popular music. The group is well-known for their performances at the Jersey Shore, New York and Connecticut. Food will also be available during the concert.The fireworks will begin at about 9:00 PM accompanied by patriotic music. Hamilton Township’s Recreational and Community Events Sponsorship Initiative will fund the cost of the fireworks and the concert. The rain-date for the festivities is Monday, July 6, 2009, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Get more info @ HamiltonNJ.com
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Lawrence Township, Mercer County:
Lawrence Independence Day celebration, July 4, concert, 7 p.m.; fireworks, 9:40 p.m., Rider University, 2083 Lawrenceville Road. (609) 844-7067
Get more info @ The Lawrence Township NJ Website
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Princeton, Mercer County:
Run by the nonprofit group, the Spirit of Princeton, the fireworks display is to be staged on Thursday, July 2 at the Princeton University sports fields, next to the Stadium.
Get more info @ Spirit of Princeton Fireworks
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Middlesex County New Jersey 4th of July Fireworks and Celebrations:
Monroe Township, Middlesex County:
The celebration begins at 5:00 and the fireworks are scheduled to begin at dusk.
More information on the Monroe Township of Middlesex County website
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Monmouth County New Jersey 4th of July Fireworks and Celebrations:
Long Branch, Monmouth County:
Long Branch’s annual Independence Day Celebration is called Oceanfest. The 19th edition of this perennial Jersey Shore favorite will take place on Saturday, July 4 th from 10 AM to 10PM, rain or shine, on the city’s beautiful oceanfront promenade. The event is co-produced by the City of Long Branch and the Greater Long Branch Chamber of Commerce and is highlighted by one of the state’s largest fireworks displays starting at 9:30 PM.
Get more info @ LongBranchChamber.org
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Red Bank, Monmouth County
Red Bank host one of the largest and best organized fireworks displays in the state of New Jersey. It takes place on Friday, July 3, 2009. The promoters offer reserved parking with front row seats along the river in Marine Park and an exclusive gourmet dinner and show package. The display staged by Garden State Fireworks of Millington features over 10,000 shells and draws more than 50,000 people to downtown Red Bank.
More information @ Red Bank New Jersey Kaboom Fireworks Site
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Somerset County New Jersey 4th of July Fireworks and Celebrations:
Bridgewater, Somerset County:
Bridgewater will celebrate the 4th of July with a Family Festival at North Branch Park that includes a wide range of activities. There will be historical reenactments, rides and games for the kids, live music, food and of course a fireworks display as a grand finale to the night of fun. The Third New Jersey Regiment “Jersey Blues” will perform a Revolutionary War Encampment. For the kids there will be temporary tattoos, a super slide, a candy bounce, an obstacle course, and a rock climbing wall. There will be live music provided by: Bounce Ooo LaLa and Daniel, Shorty Long and the Jersey Horns, and the musical group Fortune. Refreshments will be served by Gourmet Events Catering. The fireworks display staged by Schaefer Pyrotechnics starts at 9:30 PM. It has been called “Central New Jersey’s most spectacular fireworks display”.
The rain date for the fireworks is Sunday, July 5, 2009.
For more information, see the Somerset County Park Commission Website.
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Union County New Jersey 4th of July Fireworks and Celebrations:
Clark Township, Union County:
Clark Township will celebrate Independence Day on Saturday July 4, 2009 starting with rides for the kids and “various booths [whatever that is?]” starting at 4:00 PM and continuing until 8:00 PM. The fireworks display will begin at dusk, which is usually around 9:00 PM this time of year. The rain date for the festivities will be on Sunday, July 5th.
For more information, see the Clark Township Website.
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Cranford, Union County:
Cranford has a full day of fun events and activities scheduled to celebrate our nation’s birthday on Saturday, July 4, 2009. It all begins at 8:00 in the morning with canoe races sponsored by the Cranford Canoe Club. At 9:00 and 9:30 AM the Firecracker Fun Run and 4 mile race begin at Nomahegan Park. Other activities in the afternoon include a bicycle decorating contest and an egg toss. There will food vendors in the park all afternoon during the festivities. The day will end with the fireworks display at dusk, about 9:15 PM. The rain date for the fireworks is Sunday, July 5, 2009.
For more information, see the Cranford.com Website
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Elizabeth, Union County:
Elizabeth will celebrate the 4th with music and fireworks on the waterfront at Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday, July 4, 2009. A Disc Jockey will start playing music at 5:00 PM. The fireworks are scheduled to begin at 8:45 PM. The festivities are sponsored by the City of Elizabeth Recreation Department. Residents are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs.
For more information see the Calendar of Events @ ElizabethNJ.org.
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Mountainside, Union County:
Mountainside will celebrate Independence Day with a fireworks display in honor of Independence Day sponsored by the Mountainside Borough Council and the Mountainside Police Athletic League [PAL]. The show will begin at dusk on Saturday, July 4, 2009 at the fields behind Our Lady of Lourdes and Deerfield School. The PAL will be on hand to serve free ice cream for as long as supplies last. The rain date for this event is on Sunday, July 5, 2009.
For more information on Mountainside Borough’s July 4th and other community events see their newsletter.
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New Providence, Union County:
On Friday, July 3, 2009, New Providence will stage their fireworks display for the first time downtown. They will close off South Street from Springfield Avenue to Gales Drive at 8:00 PM so that residents can set up lawn chairs on the street to watch the big show. The fireworks display will begin at 9:30 PM. The rain date for the show is Sunday, July 5, 2009.
For more information on this historic New Jersey community see NewProv.org!
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Plainfield, Union County:
Plainfield celebrates our nation’s birthday on two separate days. On Thursday, July 2, 2009 they present an early fireworks display to kick off a long weekend of fun. The display starts at 9:30 PM at Cedarbrook Park. On Saturday, July 4, 2009 the city will present their 86th Annual Independence Day Celebration with a parade on East Front Street beginning at 10:00 AM. The festivities are presented by the City of Plainfield, Mayor Sharon Robinson Briggs and the Division of Recreation.
For more information on events in Plainfield see the Calendar of Events Section @ Plainfield.com.
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Roselle Park, Union County:
Roselle Park celebrates summer, music and Independence Day with a 5 day long festival called The Roselle Park Carnival Extravaganza. The dates are Wednesday, July 1st to Sunday, July 5th, 2009. The festival includes everything from a traditional carnival with rides and games to live music, dance, disc jockeys and of course a fireworks display. All the events are staged at the High School and are sponsored by Roselle Park High School Band Parents Association and the class of 2010 parents. The fireworks are scheduled for Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 9:15.
For more information see The Roselle Park Carnival Extravaganza website.
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Springfield, Union County:
Springfield New Jersey will celebrate the 4th of July with their biggest celebration ever. The festivities include a concert, a petting zoo, pony rides, a trackless train, rides, a wide selection of food and a fireworks display that will get underway at dusk. The fireworks are being staged by New Jersey’s own Garden State Fireworks of Millington.
The concert will feature two performances by nationally known musical acts. The 1910 Fruitgum Company will be performing hits like “Simon Says” and “1,2,3 Red Light” and Terry Sylvester, from the Hollies will be performing hits like “Bus Stop” and “He Ain’t Heavy”.
Admission is $5.00 per person for the rides, the concert and the fireworks.
For more information on the festival see the Springfield Patriot Website.
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Summit, Union County:
Summit New Jersey has been holding an extravagant celebration of the 4th of July for over 6o years and when the economy turned bad this year many thought that the celebration might have to be canceled due to a lack of funding. A call was put out and the community came together with new corporate sponsors to make the event possible.
The 4th of July celebration begins at 9:45 AM Saturday morning in Summit with a flag raising ceremony. The day continues with:
Children’s Decorated Bicycle Parade
Novelty Rides
Games and Amusements
Polka Dot Children’s Performance
Annual Emergency Services Softball Game
The Summit Stompers Dixieland All Stars Concert
Food, ice cream and treats: available until 1:30 PM
As the early evening approaches there will be a concert performed by the Party Dolls Show and Dance Band at 7:45. The day will come to a grand finale at dusk with the presentation of the fireworks display at Soldiers Memorial Field is located just off Ashland Road. The fireworks are scheduled to begin at 9:15.
For more information see the City of Summit New Jersey Website.
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Union Township, Union County:
Union Township will celebrate the 4th with the Second Annual Soap Box Derby, a concert and a fireworks display on Saturday, July 4, 2009. The derby, sponsored by 7-Eleven, JS Blade Advertising, Union Taxi, Ray Catena Mercedes of Union and Bed, Bath and Beyond, begins at 10:00 AM. The concert featuring “The Characters” begins at 7:30 PM and the fireworks, being staged by Garden State Fireworks begin at dusk.
For more information on the celebration see the Union Township Website.
