WILMINGTON, MA — Wilmington Fourth of July Committee Chairman Scott Garrant provided the Selectmen with an update on this year’s festivities at Monday night’s board meeting. Key highlights include:
- 36th Annual Fun on the Fourth will take place from Thursday, June 30 to Sunday, July 3
- 22nd Annual Wilmington Family Day will take place on Saturday, July 2
- The Spectacular Fireworks will take place on Saturday, June 2 at 9:30pm. Fireworks will be shot from the high school’s practice field on Wildwood Street
- As in years past, celebration features dinners, concerts, games for family members, and a carnival by Fiesta Shows
- With the return to the Town Common, a couple of popular events will return, including the Hospital Bed Race and the 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament — team sign-ups have already begun!
- The FULL SCHEDULE can be found on www.funonthefourth.com.
- For the first time ever, the Community Groups’ Booths will be on the Town Common.
- Important Note #1: Parking will be at a premium. Some spots will be available in the High School parking lot on Thursday and Friday night, but the lot will be dedicated to strictly handicapped parking on Saturday
- The St. Thomas parking lot will be available on Saturday, but is expected to fill quickly. Attendees are encouraged to visit www.funonthefourth.com to shuttle bus information.
- Important Note #2: Beginning on Saturday at 9am, due to State Fire Marshal regulations regarding fireworks, Wildwood Street will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians from Middlesex Avenue to the power plant location. The Wildwood Cemetery will be completely closed to pedestrians and vehicles. There will be a shuttle bus stop location at the Wildwood School.
- Important Note #3 (via Assistant Town Manager Amaral): Spectators will not be permitted to watch the fireworks from the high school’s turf field or the bleachers because that’s within the fireworks safety radius. Spectators CAN, however, watch the fireworks from the high school’s baseball field, in addition to the Town Common area.
After thanking Town Manager Jeff Hull, Assistant Town Manager Kendra Amaral and Town Department heads for their assistance, Garrant closed his remarks by saying — “It’s good to be back home at the Common.”
“I’m looking forward to having a remarkably fun and safe event, and being able to look back at the 6th of July and being able to say that it was well worth it,” said Selectman Mike Champoux.
“You do a fantastic job. All your volunteers to a fantastic job,” Selectman Mike McCoy told Garrant. “Glad we were able to take a wrong and make it a right…. Just please don’t burn down the high school.”
“I think the residents are going to enjoy [this year’s celebration],” added Selectman Kevin Caira. “I think they’re going to come out in full force this year.”
“Thank you and your committee for all your hard work. I know it’s a year-long effort,” Selectman Greg Bendel said to Garrant. Bendel also congratulated Garrant on his recent 2016 Wilmington Good Guy Award.
“Thank you to your team for hanging in there while we went through this evolutionary process,” Selectwoman Judy O’Connell told Garrant. “Obviously traffic and parking are concerns, but I’m hoping people will be going in with an open mind and an aura of pleasure.”
Later in the meeting, the Selectmen unanimously approved the public entertainment license that Fiesta Shows would need to run the carnival.
Watch the discussion below, courtesy of Wilmington Community Television, beginning at 17:20 and lasting until 28:00.
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