July 4th Celebrations (Part 3)

Break out your red, white and blue and check out these star-spangled celebrations at some of Gozaic’s participating partners. For more ideas of places with great fireworks displays, hometown parades and festivals, read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 4 of this series.

Laurel Highlands/Greenburg, Pennsylvania
Westmoreland Arts & Heritage, Twin Lakes Park
July 1-4, 2010
The Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival offers the best in visual and live performing arts, traditional and fine crafts, cultural heritage activities, humanities and exciting ethnic foods. This annual summer festival is free.

Pasadena, California
AmericaFest 2010, Rose Bowl
July 4, 2010
Get into the spirit at AmericaFest 2010, the 84th annual family-friendly event held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Enjoy food, music and activities with Southern California’s largest fireworks display.

Mount Vernon: George Washington's Estate & Gardens, Alexandria, Virginia
An American Celebration
July 4, 2010
Historic Mount Vernon salutes America’s first commander-in-chief with a dazzling display of daytime fireworks during this annual Independence Day event. See spectacular smoke fireworks in patriotic colors fired over the Potomac River. The event also includes an inspirational naturalization ceremony for 100 new citizens, military reenactments, a special wreath laying ceremony, free birthday cake for all (while supplies last) and a visit from the “first” first couple, “General and Mrs. Washington.”

Exeter, New Hampshire
American Independence Festival, American Independence Museum
July 17, 2010
Help celebrate America’s freedom with this popular festival at the American Independence Museum in Exeter, New Hampshire, held on July 17, the day New Hampshire’s copy of the Declaration of Independence was first read publicly! Join the crowd escorting George Washington down Water Street, see the horseback delivery of the Declaration and listen to the public reading (complete with hecklers!), chat with historic role-players, step to the stirring music of the Lincoln Fife and Drum and delight in the maneuvers and cannon firings of militias. Visit the traditional New Hampshire artisans’ village, view the original Dunlap Broadside (one of 26 known copies in the world) and early drafts of the U.S. Constitution and stroll Swasey Parkway and Water Street to see local arts and crafts. Enjoy plenty of food, music, sidewalk sales and children’s activities, then stay for the town’s evening fireworks and live band! From 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., rain or shine!

Photos top to bottom: Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival, photo courtesy of Laurel Highlands CVB. Parade at Mount Vernon, photo courtesy of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. A young American Independence role-player, photo courtesy American Independence Museum.