Fourth features familiy festivities

  • Published
  • By Meredith March
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Hanscom AFB --  Those seeking holiday excitement while celebrating Independence Day will find many patriotic festivities in the area to enjoy. Bedford, Boston, Concord, Lexington and Lincoln each offer entertaining possibilities for Fourth of July fun, including live performances, parades and fireworks displays. A wide variety of celebrations close to home offers plenty of alternatives for Fourth of July merrymaking. 

Bedford's Fourth of July celebration will be held at Springs Brook Park. Attractions include children's fun and games, fresh watermelon and a sandcastle contest. In addition, the Bedford Minutemen will be selling strawberry shortcake, T-shirts and other Minutemen items. 

Admission is free for Bedford residents with picture identification from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Hanscom residents are considered Bedford residents, and are welcome free of charge during that time. 

Watermelon will be served from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., and the sandcastle contest judging will occur at 2:45 p.m. For more information go to www.bedfordrecreation.org. 

For those brave enough to weather the massive Boston crowds, the city of Boston will again host the annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular along the banks of the Charles River. The festivities begin Tuesday with a free Boston Pops concert, featuring special guests Craig Ferguson and John Mellencamp, at the Hatch Shell. The Oval lawn area will open to the public at 4 p.m.; the concert will begin at 8:30 p.m. 

On Wednesday night, conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops will again take the stage with their guests at 8:30 p.m. The Oval will be open to the public beginning at 9 a.m. 

One of the nation's most renowned fireworks displays will immediately follow the Wednesday evening concert. With more than 20,000 pounds of explosives and devices imported from across the world, the fireworks extravaganza is sure to delight. 

For information on Boston's July Fourth celebrations, visit their Web site at www.july4th.org or call (888) 484-7677. 

Concord's annual Picnic in the Park will take place on Wednesday at the Emerson Playground. The first event, the Concord Minuteman Classic 2007, starts at 8:30 a.m., followed by the Youth Run Race and 5-mile Road Race at 9 a.m. 

Participants in the Children's Bicycle and Doll Carriage Parade should meet at the Concord Armory at 11:15 a.m. with decorated bikes and carriages. Children must plan to wear a helmet if riding a bike in the parade. 

Additionally, the West Concord Woman's Club will have jewelry for sale on display at the playground. For more information, go to the town's Web site at www.concordnet.org.
The Lexington Lions Club will host youth games and its Annual Fourth of July Carnival, featuring games, rides and food, beginning Wednesday. 

The youth games will begin Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Crumb Memorial Football Field. Events include 50 and 100-yard dashes, sack and three-legged races, a watermelon eating contest and more. To obtain a sign-up sheet, go to http://lexingtonlions.clubwizard.com/IMupload/Youth%20Games%20Signup%202007.pdf. 

The carnival will be held at the Center Playground on Worthen Road, and will be open Wednesday and July 7 and 8 from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., as well as Thursday and July 6 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. 

For more information, or for a ride discount coupon, visit the Lexington Lions Club Web site at www.lexingtonlions.org. 

Lincoln's biggest community event is the town's Fourth of July celebration, and this year will be no exception. Events will take place at the Town Office Building, and will include a children's parade, town parade, Firecracker Run, summer barbecue and a fireworks display. 

Participants can register for the Firecracker Run from 8 to 8:30 a.m. The children's bicycle parade will begin at 10 a.m., followed by the town parade at 10:30 a.m. The fireworks display will take place at Lincoln Public Schools, and begins at 9 p.m. 

For more information visit the Celebration Committee's Web site at www.lincolntown.org/depts/celebrat.htm.