July 4 Maplewood Celebration

Information

July 4th Committee of the Maplewood Civic Association announces NEW FIREWORKS LAUNCH SITE and NEW FIREWORKS AND CONCERT PRIME VIEWING AREA with 2 entrances (Tag required). Our July 4th celebration can use your help! Call to volunteer: (973) 339-7399 July 4th Committee of the Maplewood Civic Association presents our Eleventy-First (111th) Annual Day-Long Celebration. DESCRIPTION: Thursday, July Fourth in Memorial Park, Maplewood, Will Be A Full Day of Family Fun, including the Circus and Fireworks with NEW EVENT LOCATIONS in and around Memorial Park, especially the NEW FIREWORKS LAUNCH SITE and NEW FIREWORKS AND CONCERT PRIME VIEWING AREA with 2 entrances (Tag required). Our annual celebration is organized by the Fourth of July Committee of the Maplewood Civic Association, and supported by your Tag purchase! Tags are required for admission, especially to the circus, music and fireworks! ($10 per tag). Tags will be available at Maplewood merchants, libraries, etc. AGENDA: The traditional Maplewood July 4th begins at Ricalton Square at 7:45 a.m., where kids and adults assemble for the 8 a.m. OPENING CEREMONIES Ñ VFW color guard and representatives of the Township Committee lead the Flag Salute & Anthem Ñ and The BIKES, ETC. PARADE steps off from Ricalton Square 8:15 a.m. ÑEverything Push, Pedal or Pull: Red, White & Blue decorated bikes. Neighborhoods and organizations are invited to create original theme parade entries. The Parade concludes in athletic field south of Oakview Avenue in time for the 9 a.m. KidsÕ DASHES & RACES and other activities to follow in their NEW LOCATION in the athletic field south of Oakview Avenue. (Note that the annual 4th of July 5k Run, which starts at 7:30 am this year in front of the Main Library, requires Separate Registration & Fee. Organized by CHS Cross-Country Team parents & faculty.) 9 a.m. DASHES & RACES organized by South Mountain YMCA. NEW LOCATION: the athletic field south of Oakview Avenue. Requires parent or guardian sign-up. 30-yard dash (ages 6Ð8); 50-yard dash (9 & up); Relay Race (racers must organize their own teams by age and gender, if possible); and special races for age 5 & under. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbons are awarded. Morning concession (coffee, water, etc.) by Troop 5 Maplewood Boy Scouts. Walk across the field to the CIRCLES-TO-SQUARES ART PROJECT at 10 a.m. Art begun all around town in April will be built, decorated and installed in the Park. Open to all ages and presented by John Kaufman; sponsored by Memorial Post 10120 VFW and 1978 Maplewood Arts Center. ICE CREAM EATING CONTESTS, presented by Maplewood Rotary, begin at 11 a.m. in the picnic area next to playground (K-12 & Adults). 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbons are awarded. 11:00 a.m. Tennis Contests at Civic House tennis courts: fastest serve and most accurate serve; presented by Maplewood Recreation Tennis Program BAKING CONTEST entries need to be at Town Hall between 9 and 9:30 a.m. for the 11:30 a.m. Baking Contest (all ages). Awards categories include cake, pie, pastry, bread, cookie/bar and presentation. Judging directed by Janet Crane. 12 noon: NEW PET AWARDS SHOW LOCATION THIS YEAR, IN FRONT OF TOWN HALL. Bring your pets of all types and all sizes to show off in the PET AWARDS SHOW presented by the NJ Animal Coalition. Play or watch ADULT SOFTBALL, 12 to 3 p.m.; also starting at 12, youÕll find the KIDSÕ PERCUSSION by Jamie Ross and KARAOKE by New Jersey DJ Services LLC; all at the athletic field south of Oakview Avenue, The ZERBINI FAMILY CIRCUS performs shows at 1:00, 3:30 and 6 p.m., under the big top, rain or shine, first come first served. There are no reserved seats and seating is limited, so line up early! Zerbini, part of eight generations of circus people, is an old-fashioned, small traditional family circus with acrobats, dancing, juggling, clowning, and dog and pony shows. At extra charge, there are pony and camel rides, ship slide and moon bounce attractions and food concessions. Come to the lawn (athletic field south of Oakview Avenue) 4 p.m. until fireworks for LIVE MUSIC featuring local young and adult bands. Picnic and get ready for the fireworks. Ice cream vendor; tasty offerings from Blue Plate Special; and hotdogs, soda, etc. will be sold by MaplewoodÕs Boy Scout Troop 5. FIREWORKS are at or about 9 p.m., but come early because ALL TIMES ARE APPROXIMATE. Fireworks are LOUD! Parental discretion advised for small children and pets; consider viewing from a distance. Rain Date: July 5 (Circus and indoor events will be July 4, rain or shine). No parking on nearby streets or Memorial Park. Note that the $10 Tag REQUIRED for Admission to Fireworks Prime Viewing Area INCLUDES the Full DayÕs Activities and CIRCUS. VOLUNTEERS: Thanks to volunteers, these festivities continue as a community-wide endeavor in the best spirit of Maplewood. The July Fourth Committee invites you to get involved and needs your help! For an hour or more on the 4th, you can help do Tag Sales, Ticket Taking, Bikes Parade, Dashes & Relays, Ice Cream Eating Contest, Baking Contest, Pet Show &c. Contact the July Fourth Committee (973) 339-7399. GET YOUR TAGS early at: Town Hall ClerkÕs Office, Libraries (Main Branch & Hilton Branch), and Recreation Dept. (Town Hall & De Hart Park). Participating vendors in Maplewood village: Able Baker, Maplewood Stationery, No.165, ScrivenerÕs, Strawberry Fields, Village Wine Shop, Words Bookstore; on Springfield Avenue: EdoÕs Quality Cakes, HLS Juice Bar & Grill, Park Wood Diner, and on July 4th in Memorial Park and at Evening Event Entrance Gates Call to volunteer: (973) 339-7399 Get involved! Friend us on Facebook Ñ ÒJuly 4th Committee of the Maplewood Civic AssociationÓ https://www.facebook.com/pages/July-4th-Committee-of-the-Maplewood-Civic-Association/265385803568168 and follow on Twitter: @maplewood4th For more information, see: http://www.maplewoodonline.com/cg/july4/ Contact (alternate): Paul Appelgren, committee chairman, (973)725-2544.