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06/13/2017 02:00 PMIt can be tough to decide where to celebrate Independence Day on the shoreline with so many towns hosting fireworks near July 4. Guilford stays out of the fray, scheduling its major summer celebration with fireworks following the Community Picnic on Saturday, July 8.
The Community Picnic will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. on the Town Green with a performance from the 100-piece town band led by Mark Gahm set to take place from 5 until 7 p.m.
“The band director from Guilford High School does a phenomenal job with this group,” said Guilford Parks & Recreation Director Rick Maynard.
In addition to the band, there will be a selection of food vendors, inflatables for the kids to enjoy, and a climbing wall.
Guilford Developmental Assets for Youth (DAY) will also sponsor community Family Olympics, billed as “a fun team-building event for all ages designed to bring families and friends closer together through competitive adventure play.” The activity does require registration through Guilford Parks & Recreation Department (visit www.guilfordparkrec.com for details).
At 7 p.m., the party moves to the Guilford Fairgrounds on Lovers Lane for more live music.
“We have a group called Ball in the House,” said Maynard. “We had them last year and they are just so good we got them back this year.”
Ball in the House, a Boston a capella group, will perform from 7 p.m. until the fireworks begin after 9 p.m.
“While they’re singing the National Anthem, we have the fireworks going off,” said Maynard. “It’s pretty special.”
There will be more inflatables and food trucks at the fairgrounds.
According to Maynard, the aim is to have the fireworks display kick off at 9:15 p.m. The show is set to run for about 20 minutes. The Guilford Board of Selectmen approved Atlas Pyrovision Entertainment to put on the show as it has each year since 2000.
“This is a company that has a big reputation and a good reputation in Connecticut,” said Maynard. “They have a very good safety record which is important to us.”
“The grand finale is huge, and that’s one of the things you remember when you leave,” says Maynard. “It just keeps going and going and going.”
Maynard says that as this is a town-sponsored event, there should be no alcohol at the picnic or fireworks, though attendees are permitted to bring their own food to either event.
“Everything on the Green is free unless they want to buy food,” says Maynard.
There will also be food trucks; other attractions at the fireworks that are free, too, with exception of a parking fee from the Agricultural Society, which allows the town to use the fairgrounds to host the event.
Maynard says that he encourages people to get to the fireworks on the earlier side. He says that even if attendees get there at 8:30 p.m. they may not find a parking space.
“We thank the Agricultural Society, who gave us the property to do this, and the Fire Department is phenomenal,” says Maynard. “And the Police Department for traffic control and fire control. We can’t do it without other groups helping us.”
The Community Picnic, Concert, and Fireworks take place on Saturday, July 8. In case of rain, the Town Band will perform under a tent, the picnic will be canceled, and fireworks will be held on Sunday, July 9.