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06/19/2018 12:00 AMWith July just around the corner, Madison is gearing up for the annual July 4th festivities that draw throngs of people to town each year. The week kicks off with the Connect on the Green on Saturday, June 30, followed by the fireworks on Tuesday, July 3, and the Exchange Club’s Independence Day parade on Wednesday, July 4.
Madison Cultural Arts (MCA) presents the 36th annual summer Concert on the Green on Saturday, June 30 at 6 p.m. Performers this year include St. Patrick’s Pipe & Drum, followed by the Wallingford Symphony Orchestra. Concert admission is free, but those who wish to reserve seats toward the front of the stage can become a patron and guarantee a certain number of seats depending on the size of the donation.
More information is available on the MCA website, including how to become a patron, sign up to volunteer for the “pass the hat” fundraiser during intermission, and information on what is or is not allowed on the Town Green (alcohol is not allowed).
The Madison Fireworks show takes place on Tuesday, July 3 at 9:30 p.m. at the waterfront area off of West Wharf. The fireworks are visible from multiple points in town and parking will be very limited on the waterfront. The Madison Fireworks Organization has put the event on every year since 2002 and raises the funds needed to provide the show each year. Since the average municipal fireworks show can cost tens of thousands of dollars, the organization is asking for donations to help support the show.
The fireworks, along with the other July 4 activities, were the topic of conversation at a recent Police Commission meeting. Madison Police Captain Joe Race said there are a lot of road closures for both the fireworks and the parade and asks residents to consider the public transportation alternatives made available for these events.
“That will result in road closures down to the beach by 8 p.m.,” he said. “We will be closing those roads except to the shuttle buses and pedestrian traffic as we have in years past...I would suggest to anyone who is going down there [to] please take the public transportation. It really does help and it does get you in and out pretty quickly.”
Residents can learn more about the firework show, traffic, and donations at www.madisonfireworks.org/home. Police officers said residents just need to understand that the July 4 festivities bring upwards of 60,000 people to town.
“Less and less towns throughout the state are doing fireworks and parades,” said Race. “We have seen that decline over the years, so it makes our event bigger and bigger every year.”
The Madison Exchange Club’s 39th Annual Independence Day Parade takes place on Wednesday, July 4 and rounds out the week’s celebrations. The parade begins downtown at 11 a.m. and makes its way down to the Surf Club. The theme of the parade this year is Celebrating Our Olympic Athletes as all three Madison Olympians who completed in this winter Olympics this year will serve as grand marshals of the parade.
For more information on the parade route, road closures, or to register to an organization, business, or group, visit the Exchange Club website at www.madisonexchange.org.