NEWPORT — Communities across Orleans County will fill the Independence Day weekend with hometown traditions, from village parades and chicken barbecues to lakeside fireworks, as the nation marks its 250th birthday.
In Barton, the Orleans County Fair Association returns to Roaring Brook Park for its yearly Fourth of July celebration. The day opens with a tractor pull at 9 a.m. and a horse pull an hour later. A parade steps off at 2 p.m. in Barton Village, winding from the fire station to the fairgrounds, followed by horse poles and barrels competition at 4 p.m. An AC/DC tribute act, Back in Black, closes out the evening at 7:30 p.m. Food vendors and a beer tent will operate throughout the day. Gate admission is $10, with children 10 and younger admitted at no charge.
Brighton has spread its festivities across three days. Country artist Jamie Lee Thurston opens a weekend concert series at Lakeside Park on Friday, July 3, at 6 p.m., and classic rock covers from the band Rock On! follow at the same hour Saturday. Also Saturday, the American Legion fires up its yearly chicken barbecue at noon, serving until supplies run out, and a human foosball tournament kicks off at 1 p.m. on Brighton Town Beach, with squads of six to eight players. The weekend caps off Sunday, July 5, when Island Pond’s fireworks return over the water at roughly 9:30 p.m. Earlier that day, a cardboard boat race launches from the town beach at 1 p.m., and a holiday scavenger hunt gets underway at 2:30 p.m. from the welcome center.
Derby’s parade rolls at 10 a.m. Saturday, with participants setting up beginning an hour earlier; anyone hoping to march can reach the town clerk’s office at (802) 766-4906. Just before the procession, the Northern Border Running Club stages a free one-mile road race along the parade route, beginning near the Derby Elks on Route 5. Later, at 12:30 p.m., the Lindy Palin flyover will scatter ping pong balls over the North Country Union Junior High School soccer fields.
Greensboro’s “Funky Fourth” begins Saturday at 10 a.m. as a parade makes its way along Breezy Avenue. The town green then hosts a community picnic featuring a craft fair and farmers’ market, food sellers, a silent dessert auction, dancing and a dunk tank. Festivities wrap up at the Highland Center for the Arts, where a picnic and lawn games start at 5:30 p.m., followed by Greensboro’s Saturday Night Live Thespians and a 6:30 p.m. concert by the Vermont Philharmonic.
In Jay, the Jay Village Inn hosts its 19th annual fireworks display Saturday, paired this year with a nod to the country’s 250th anniversary. The evening includes dining, dancing, outdoor food and drinks, with the show launching at dusk. Information is available at (802) 988-2306.
Newport’s celebration unfolds Saturday at Gardner Park, where free tethered balloon rides will be offered from 4 to 6 p.m., weather permitting. A cornhole tournament run by Orleans County Cornhole, open to players of every skill level, starts at 5 p.m. Evansville Transit Authority performs on the park’s waterfront from 6 to 9 p.m., with fireworks lighting the sky at 9:30 p.m. once the music ends.
Westmore starts its Fourth early, with the Westmore Community Church serving a pancake breakfast at the town hall from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday. At 12:30 p.m., the park hosts a reading of Frederick Douglass’ speech “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July,” and Westmore Fire and Rescue runs a chicken barbecue there from 1 to 5 p.m., alongside children’s activities, a scavenger hunt and face painting. The Westmore Association’s yearly boat parade sets out at 3 p.m., open to watercraft of all kinds with no signup required; boaters are asked to assemble at Crescent Beach by 2:45 p.m.
At a glance
Barton — Roaring Brook Park: tractor pull 9 a.m.; horse pull 10 a.m.; parade 2 p.m. (fire station to fairgrounds); horse poles and barrels 4 p.m.; Back in Black (AC/DC tribute) 7:30 p.m.; food vendors, all-day beer tent. $10; ages 10 and under free.
Brighton — Lakeside Park concerts: Jamie Lee Thurston, Fri. 6 p.m.; Rock On!, Sat. 6 p.m. American Legion chicken barbecue, Sat. noon until gone. Human foosball, Brighton Town Beach, Sat. 1 p.m. (BrightonRecreationVT.org/foosball). Sunday: cardboard boat race, town beach, 1 p.m.; scavenger hunt, welcome center, 2:30 p.m.; Island Pond fireworks, about 9:30 p.m.
Derby — Parade, Sat. 10 a.m. (setup 9 a.m.; join: (802) 766-4906). Free one-mile race before parade, near Derby Elks on Route 5. Lindy Palin flyover ping pong ball drop, 12:30 p.m., North Country Union Junior High soccer fields.
Greensboro — Funky Fourth: parade on Breezy Avenue, Sat. 10 a.m.; town green picnic, craft fair, farmers’ market, dessert auction, dunk tank. Highland Center for the Arts: picnic and games 5:30 p.m.; Saturday Night Live Thespians; Vermont Philharmonic 6:30 p.m.
Jay — Jay Village Inn 19th annual fireworks and 250th celebration, Sat.; dining, dancing, outdoor food and drinks; fireworks at dusk. (802) 988-2306.
Newport — Gardner Park, Sat.: tethered balloon rides 4-6 p.m. (weather permitting); cornhole tournament 5 p.m.; Evansville Transit Authority 6-9 p.m.; fireworks 9:30 p.m.
Westmore — Sat.: pancake breakfast, town hall, 8-10:30 a.m.; Frederick Douglass reading, park, 12:30 p.m.; chicken barbecue, kids’ activities, scavenger hunt, face painting, park, 1-5 p.m.; boat parade 3 p.m. (gather at Crescent Beach 2:45 p.m. No registration).
