Merrimack Valley

Valley gears up for event-filled holiday weekend

By Brian Messenger
bmessenger@eagletribune.com
Published: July 1, 2009

Merrimack Valley residents can celebrate Fourth of July weekend locally with parades, live music, pony rides, pancake breakfasts, a road race, and, of course, fireworks.

The sky will be lit up at night, starting Thursday in Lawrence. Haverhill and North Andover will have firework shows on Friday and North Andover on Saturday, weather permitting.

For the first year in decades, Methuen will not celebrate the Independence Day holiday with fireworks. The city's annual show was canceled because of budget cuts. A free concert will be held instead on July 3 at Nicholson Stadium, featuring Beetle Juice, a Beatles tribute band.

In Andover, the town's traditional Fourth of July pancake breakfast and Horribles Parade will go on as planned, because of a $3,000 donation from Jerry Silverman, a former Andover Selectmen and fireworks fundraiser.

In North Andover, the annual Fourth of July Road Race is returning following a three-year hiatus. The race, a tradition since the 1970s, had been on hold because of construction on the Old Center.

Here's a list of Fourth of July events happening on the weekend:

Andover

July 3: Andover High School, 80 Shawsheen Road with performance by Middlesex Concert Band at 7 p.m., followed by fireworks at dusk.

July 4: The Park, Bartlet Street, with jazz band concert at 8-9:30 a.m.; pancake breakfast (adults $5, children/seniors, $3; Horribles parade, 9:30 a.m.; children's games, prizes and entertainment, 10-11:30 a.m.; Middlesex Concert Band, 10:30 a.m.-noon.

Haverhill

July 3: Haverhill Stadium, Lincoln Avenue with A Good Time DJ, starting 6 p.m., followed by performance by the B Street Bombers, 8 p.m. and fireworks, 10 p.m. Cost is $2 per person, $10 family pass

Rain date is July 5.

July 4: Winnekenni Castle, Kenoza Avenue with pancake breakfast, 8-11 a.m., $6 adults, $3 children.

Methuen

July 3: Nicholson Stadium, Pleasant View Street with free concert with Beatle Juice, 6 p.m. Rain date is July 5

Lawrence

July 2: South Lawrence East Elementary School, 165 Crawford St. with food vendors, children's activities, free bike raffle, 7 p.m., followed by fireworks, 9 p.m. Rain date is July 6

July 4: Lawrence Heritage State Park, 1 Jackson St. with children's activities, bell-ringing, flag-raising, parade, orations, reading of the Declaration of Independence, lunch, patriotic sing-along, all free, starting at 11 a.m., rain or shine.

North Andover

July 3: Town Common in Old Center with family picnic, music by Russ McQueen, beer and wine tent, 5-8 p.m.

July 4: Town Common, 28th annual Merrimack Valley Striders Road Race starts 8 a.m.; food, children's games, crafters and display tents, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; doll carriage and bike parade, pony rides, Rotary Club castle, beer and wine tent, starting at noon. Fireworks at North Andover Middle School, 9 p.m. Free parking and shuttle service from North Andover High to common, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

July 5: Town Common with Military Appreciation Day non-denominational service at 9 a.m. with Ulysses S. Grant re-enactor, crafters and display tents, 10 a.m.; dunk tank, pony rides at noon; vintage baseball, 3 p.m.; performance by Jazz Disciples, 3:30 p.m.; beer and wine tent, noon-6 p.m.