Chatham To Kick Off Holiday Week With Fireworks July 2

CHATHAM – The July Fourth holiday is just around the corner, and the celebration starts early this year, with fireworks at Veterans Field on Tuesday, July 2.

This is the third year that the Chatham Athletic Association and others have sponsored the celebration, which includes kids activities and music at the downtown field.

It happens a few days before the holiday to ease the logistics associated with the town’s popular Independence Day parade, said Steve West, the Athletic Association’s board president. The crowd for the fireworks has grown steadily — it was more than 5,000 last year — and the association appreciates the police and fire department’s support, West said.

“We’re excited to again be bringing the fireworks to Chatham,” he said. “The whole purpose is to have the summer July 4 kickoff.”

The evening begins at 7 p.m. with face painting and glitter tattoos for kids right behind home plate at the iconic baseball park. At 8, the Jeff Lowe Band takes to the field to entertain the crowd until approximately 9 p.m., when the fireworks begin. Northstar Fireworks, the firm that puts on the show at First Night and has done so at the previous July 4 week celebrations, will once again be setting off the pyrotechnics.

Before the association resurrected the July fireworks, Chatham hadn’t had summer fireworks in 45 years (First Night fireworks are also held at the field). The association worked with the chamber of commerce and Chatham Bars Inn to facilitate the event.

“The three of us have kept on for years two and three in pretty much the same fashion,” West said.

Traffic restrictions will be on place during Tuesday’s event, according to Chatham Police Lt. Andrew Goddard. Depot Road will be closed to traffic between Post Office Road and Old Harbor Road, and Hitching Post Road will be closed at Old Academy Road. Vehicles will be allowed in to park on the street and at the elementary school until shortly before the event.

A safety zone will be in place in front of the fire station from Hitching Post Road to the stairs across from the Railroad Museum. Spectators will not be allowed within that area. That was put in place during the First Night fireworks for public safety reasons, Goddard said.

Officers will be in place to assist with parking and traffic at the community center and Veterans Field Road parking lot, Goddard said. Public parking will be available at those lots, at the elementary school, Oyster Pond and downtown.

Fire Chief Justin Tavano encouraged spectators to view the fireworks from the little league field at the community center. It’s a wide open area far enough from the fireworks to make for comfortable viewing, he said, and is little utilized.

Sponsors for Tuesday’s fireworks include Chatham Bars Inn, the Chatham Athletic Association/Chatham Anglers Baseball, Gold level; Chatham Cookware, Chatham Hardware, Chatham Jewelers, Minglewood Homes, Wayside Inn/Greyfinch Inn, Silver level; and Cape Cod 5, Chatham Chamber of Commerce, Chatham Merchants Association, Fisherman’s Daughter, Pine Acres Realty, Robert Paul Realty, Bronze level.

West said sponsors are still being sought at all levels; for information contact him at steve.e.west@me.com.