Break out the red, white and blue – the upcounty will light up the night this July Fourth with a wide range of fireworks festivities and lots of family-friendly fun.
Fireworks will begin around 9 p.m. at the free events in Gaithersburg, Germantown and Poolesville. Food will be available. In case of rain, the fireworks will go on at the same time July 5.
Rock out in Gaithersburg
The city of Gaithersburg and 97.1 WASH-FM will co-host July Fourth fun at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.
Gates open at 5 p.m., family-friendly games start at 6 p.m., the dance band Powerhouse performs at 7 p.m. and a special city ceremony follows at 8 p.m.
Perry Parkway will be closed beginning at 4 p.m., so attendees should use the entrances on Chestnut and Dalamar streets. Cars will not be let into the fairgrounds.
‘Germantown Glory’
The county’s third annual Germantown Glory celebration at the South Germantown Recreational Park in Boyds will be more low-key this year due to budgetary constraints. County Executive Isiah Leggett proposed cutting the event’s budget from $68,000 to $39,600 in March in his recommended operating budget, which only would have covered fireworks. The County Council later upped the amount to $54,000, the same amount Kensington’s county-sponsored celebration received.
‘‘It really would’ve been hard to run the event with just fireworks,” said Mark Winans, a manager with the county’s Department of Recreation.
There won’t be any activities, but the extra funding did pay for lights, security, portable toilets and live music. The band Bobby & the Believers go on at 7 p.m., and they will play until the fireworks start.
The fireworks display will be the same size as in 2007.
Party on in Poolesville
The Upper Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Department will host its annual Fourth of July celebration at the soccer fields on Hughes Road near Sugarland Road just outside of Poolesville.
There will be new food vendors this year selling hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, Italian ices and funnel cakes, and there will be an expanded fireworks program courtesy of Zambelli Fireworks, according to fireworks committee chairman Jeffrey Eck. Glow rings and 3-D fireworks glasses will be on sale.
The gates will open at 6 p.m. with music from Poolesville’s Jim Bowie Band.
Parking is $5, and Local Boy Scouts and the Monocacy Lions Club will be on hand directing traffic. Violators may be ticketed for parking on Hughes Road.
Pets and political hand-outs are not allowed, and motorized vehicles and bicycles are not allowed in spectator areas. Attendees must sit in the spectator areas but may bring blankets and chairs.
The fire department will be accepting donations to help pay for the $15,000 celebration.
Rockville revels
Spending Independence Day in Rockville means live concerts, food and fireworks at Montgomery College’s Rockville campus.
The free event will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday with local musicians hitting two stages. RedLine, a six-piece classic rock band from Frederick, will perform on the campus stage, while the Rockville-based Fugitive Brass Quintet performs in the football stadium. At 8 p.m., the Rockville Concert Band will take the stage at the football stadium.
A variety of vendors selling burgers, snacks, pizza and Korean barbecue will open at 7 p.m.
The fireworks show will begin at 9:30 p.m. Spectators can watch from the football stadium, designated spots on campus, or the Board of Education parking lot across Mannakee Street. Visitors are encouraged to take blankets and lawn chairs because stadium seating is limited.
Parking will be available in all of Montgomery College’s campus parking lots and in the Board of Education parking lot on Mannakee.
Montgomery College is located at 51 Mannakee St.
Bright Night
The City of Gaithersburg celebrates with a concert by Powerhouse at 7 p.m. and fireworks at dusk at Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 16 Chestnut St. Walk in traffic only. Food available for sale. Raindate: Saturday at the fairgrounds with fireworks and concert by B2B. Call 301-258-6350 or visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov.
Germantown Glory, South Germantown Recreational Park, 18041 Central Park Circle, Boyds. Concert by Bobby and the Believers begins at 7 p.m., fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Food sold on site. Call 240-777-6820. Rain date: Saturday.
Midcounty Sparkles, Einstein High School, 11135 Newport Road, Kensington. Activities, which include children’s games and a concert by Superfly Disco, begin at 7:30 p.m. fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Shuttle bus service begins at 6:15 p.m. from Wheaton Metro and Westfield Wheaton. Onsite parking for handicapped only. Call 240-777-8115. Rain date: Saturday.
Poolesville Traditional 4th of July Family Fireworks will be at the soccer fields on Hughes Road at Sugarland Road. Music by the Jim Bowie Band of Poolesville starting at 6 p.m. Parking is $5 per vehicle. Rain date: Saturday. Call 240-529-3438.
City of Rockville celebration is from 7-10 p.m. at Montgomery College, 51 Mannakee St. Rockville Concert Band will perform at 8 p.m. Call 240-314-8620.
Downtown Silver Spring 4th of July Block Party will be held at the Silver Plaza, 916 Ellsworth Drive from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Call 301-587-0867 or visit www.downtownsilverspring.com.
City of Takoma Park will kick off its 119th annual Independence Day celebration with a parade beginning at 10 a.m. at Carroll and Ethan Allen avenues. The evening program starts at 7:30 p.m. at Takoma Park Middle School, 7611 Piney Branch Road with fireworks starting at 9:30 p.m. Rain date is the first clear evening. Visit www.takomapark4th.org
Montgomery Village is kicking off its Independence Day Celebration at 7 a.m. on July 4 with its annual 5K race and fun run, followed by a children’s parade along Apple Ridge Road. A festival will follow until 2 p.m. at the Apple Ridge Recreation area. Contact Ed Kallas at 301-948-0110 or ekallas@mvf.org.
