Montclair’s July 4th Celebrations: A Time-Honored Tradition

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Montclair celebrates Independence Day in true style each year – 2019 marks the 69th year of Township’s annual Independence Day parade. The parade is followed by a fun-packed family picnic in Edgemont Memorial Park. The day’s events conclude with a fireworks extravaganza at Yogi Berra Stadium on the Montclair State University campus. The parade and picnic are free, admission to the stadium will be $5 per person, free for children under five years of age.

Annual Parade

The parade begins at 11:00 a.m. along a 1.6-mile route traveling west on Bloomfield Avenue, north on Midland Avenue, continuing to Watchung Avenue, west to Valley Road and ending at Edgemont Memorial Park, the site of the town picnic (see map). The parade will have performances by the Fralinger String Band of the Philadelphia Mummers fame, the Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps, St. Columcille United Gaelic Pipe Band, Weequaic High School Marching Band, Raiders Drum & Bugle Corps and plenty more spectacular performers.

Watch for your local favorites in the 2019 line-up – the Montclair Community Band, local scout troops, Applegate Farm, Uncle Sam on Stilts, Isabella and her hula hoops, community groups and organizations with floats and marchers, fire engines, antique cars, and much, much more in store, including everyone's favorite -- Elvis.

The parade takes place rain or shine.

Family Picnic

This year’s family picnic will take place at Edgemont Park from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. and will feature free pony rides, a magic show, giant slide, lots of kids activities and live music by local favorites the Porchistas. Food, snacks and drinks will be available for sale from Jack's Seafood, Applegate Farm and the Empanada Lady.

In the event of rain, the picnic will be canceled. Please check the cancelation hotline: 973-509-4914.

Fireworks

Gates open at 6:30 p.m. at Yogi Berra Stadium for the fireworks display and pre-show activities. Free parking will be available at the Carparc Diem deck, adjacent to Floyd Hall Arena. Overflow vehicles will be directed to other parking areas. Admission to the stadium will be $5 per person, free for children under five years of age.

Please note: concessions will be available at the stadium; no outside food, water or other drinks may be brought into the stadium.

In the event of rain, fireworks will be canceled. Fireworks cancelation hotline: 973-746-7434.

Rain cancellation/postponement announcements will also be posted on the township website, TV34 (Channel 34 on Comcast and Verizon FiOS), and an alert will be sent to Montclair Township Swift911 alert system subscribers – see sign-up page to subscribe for alerts.