UPDATE JULY 4 – The fireworks have been canceled due to the barge catching fire overnight. Read more HERE.
Marblehead is set to celebrate Independence Day with a full slate of events on the Fourth of July, featuring the town’s traditional Horribles Parade, a street festival, the Harbor Illumination and fireworks display.
The festivities will begin with the annual Horribles Parade, organized by the Gerry 5 Veteran Fireman’s Association. The parade steps off at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 4, beginning and ending in the National Grand Bank parking lot at 91 Pleasant Street.
Registration for parade participants will be held at two locations:
— Wednesday, July 3, from 6-8 p.m. at the Gerry 5 VFA, 210 Beacon St.
— Thursday, July 4, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. in the National Grand Bank parking lot on Pleasant Street
In case of inclement weather, the parade will be postponed to Sunday, July 7.
Following the morning parade, the Marblehead Festival of Arts will host a Street Festival from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The event will take place along Washington Street between Rockaway and Darling streets.
As day turns to night, attention will shift to Marblehead Harbor for the annual Harbor Illumination and fireworks display. The illumination is set to begin at 9 p.m., with fireworks launching at 9:15 p.m. In the event of poor weather conditions, the fireworks will be rescheduled for Friday, July 5.
Resident Alexander Falk, chairman of the Marblehead Fireworks Committee, announced several new features for this year’s celebration.
“We have a brand new website at marbleheadfire.works, which is now much faster and more reliable,” Falk said. “We’ve also added the ability to accept donations via Venmo, processed through our nonprofit organization, Friends of the Marblehead Fireworks.”
Falk also noted the addition of a special notice page for drone operators on the website, addressing the increasing popularity of unmanned aircraft systems during public events.
To ensure public safety and manage the expected crowds, Police Chief Dennis King has outlined a series of temporary street closures and traffic regulations for the day’s events:
Horribles Parade (starting at 9 a.m.):
— Pleasant Street will be closed between Spring Street and Washington Street (South).
— Spring Street will become one-way from Pleasant Street to Sewall Street.
— Essex Street will be closed entirely during parade staging and movement.
Fireworks display (starting at 7 p.m.):
— Front Street will be closed to all traffic with no parking allowed between Franklin Street and Fort Sewall Lane.
— Franklin Street becomes one-way from Front Street to Washington Street.
— Washington Street becomes one-way from Franklin Street to State Street.
Post-fireworks traffic plan:
— Traffic leaving beach parking lots will merge with traffic from the neck, allowing only right or left turns at Ocean and Atlantic avenues.
— Front Street will be closed at State Street for pedestrian traffic from Fort Sewall.
— State Street becomes one-way from Front Street to Washington Street.
— Traffic between State Street and Franklin Street, including Pond Street, will be directed along Mugford Street and Green Street to West Shore Drive.
Festival of Arts Street Festival (11 a.m.-3 p.m.):
— Washington Street closed between Rockaway Street and Darling Street.
— Hooper Street closed between Tucker Street and Washington Street.
— Mason Street closed between Tucker Street and Washington Street.
— No parking allowed on Washington Street between Rockaway Street and Darling Street.
King strongly recommends that residents and businesses in affected areas relocate their vehicles before 11 a.m. to avoid being blocked in.
The Police Department also notes that MBTA bus routes will follow pre-designated snow routes on July 4, 6-11 p.m.
To follow updates, visit marblehead.org.
