Your Middlesex County Fireworks Guide For 2017

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ — Did somebody say fireworks? We've got your Middlesex County 2017 fireworks guide right here. All the best local shows, starting Friday night in South Brunswick:

If we missed one, please email event details to Carly.Baldwin@Patch.com.

FRIDAY, JUNE 30

South Brunswick: Independence Day celebration from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.on the fields of Crossroads Middle School. The school is located on the corner of Major Road and Kingston Lane. Event begins at 6:00 p.m. and the fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. There will be a DJ, music and food vendors. "The Time Machine," an 18-piece band will be playing music from the 1960s through the present.

SATURDAY, JULY 1

Carteret: Independence Day festival from 2-11 p.m. at the waterfront park. Fireworks will go off around dusk.

Sayreville: Fireworks go off at about 9:30 p.m. from Kennedy Park at 807 Washington Road. Rain date is Sunday.

SUNDAY, JULY 2

New Brunswick/Highland Park: New Brunswick will celebrate Independence Day with live music and a fireworks display over the Raritan River on Sunday, July 2. Music will begin at 5 p.m. at Boyd Park. At 9:20 p.m. attendees will turn their eyes to the sky over the Raritan River to watch a joint fireworks display between New Brunswick and Highland Park. Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair or a blanket for seating. Public parking is available in the nearby Rutgers Public Safety building parking deck on Neilson Street. The VooDudes play at 5 p.m. in Donaldson Park in Highland Park.

MONDAY, JULY 3

Perth Amboy and South Amboy: The towns will put on a dual fireworks show starting at about 9:20 p.m. on July 3 over the Raritan Bay. Festivities begin at 5 p.m. In Perth Amboy, watch from Sadowski Parkway on the waterfront. In South Amboy, watch at Raritan Bay Waterfront Park. The rain date is July 4.

Woodbridge: Woodbridge Township will hold their annual Independence Day fireworks this year on Monday, July 3. The rain date is Wednesday, July 5. The fireworks will be held at Alvin P. Williams Memorial Park in Sewaren. Gates open at 4 p.m. but the park will be closed all day before that. There is no reserved seating and no alcoholic beverages will be permitted. Bring your lawn chairs and sit out under the stars. Live music provided by AM Gold with City Hicks.

South River: Returning for Independence Day this year, South River Parks & Recreation will be holding a fireworks display on Monday, July 3 at Denny Stadium (David Street). Admission is free and everyone is invited to come out and enjoy a fun night of music and fireworks! Musical entertainment will run approximately 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the Denny Stadium Parking lot. Those attending are asked to bring a chair or blanket.The fireworks are scheduled to go off at approximately 9:00 p.m. Please note there is bleacher seating only for the fireworks. Anyone wishing to sit in the bleachers is asked to enter the stadium through the parking lot on David Street. Please note that there will be no refreshments available at this event. In the event of inclement weather, there is no rain date for this event. An additional fireworks display and festival is planned for later in the summer on Wednesday, August 23.

TUESDAY, JULY 4

East Brunswick: Fireworks go off at about 9:45 p.m. at the Community Arts Center on Cranbury Road. There will also be free bounce rides, bands at 5 and 7:30 p.m. and a wing-eating contest at 7 p.m. Food vendors. Festivities begin at 4 p.m.

Edison: Edison will celebrate Independence Day on Tuesday, July 4th, at Papaianni Park across from the Municipal Complex starting at 5:30 p.m. with music performances by the Shore Soundz Band and Jo Bonanno & The Godsons of Soul. Then, Garden State Fireworks will begin an Independence Day spectacular at 9 p.m., sponsored by Magyar Bank and JFK Medical Center. Residents should arrive early and bring low-back chairs or blankets. There will be food vendors and kiddie rides on site starting at 5:30 p.m.

Milltown: There will be a July 4 parade and 5K through town, plus the Milltown fishing derby, kiddie rides and inflatables, music, vendors, free hot dogs and beverages. Fireworks at dusk at Milltown Borough Park on Violet Terrace.

Monroe: Fireworks go off at dusk on July 4 in Thompson Park.

Bridgewater (Somerset County): Fireworks go off at dusk on July 4 in North Branch Park. This is part of a Revolutionary War encampment re-enactment happening there that same day.

Piscataway: Celebration at 6 p.m. at Piscataway High School Stadium, 100 Behmer Rd., Piscataway Food, kiddie rides and music. Fireworks begin at sundown. For more information: 732-562-2382, www.piscatawaynj.org

WEDNESDAY, JULY 5

Cranbury: Fireworks will start at dusk at the Village Park. The Mercer County Symphonic Band will perform at 6:30 p.m. Rain date is July 6.

AUGUST 7, 13

Middlesex County Fair: Fireworks will also go off Aug. 7 and 13 as part of Middlesex County Fair, held at the fairgrounds on Cranbury Road.

AUGUST 22

South River: Fireworks go off Aug. 22 at Denny Stadium at the South River High School as part of their "End Of Summer Festival." There will be live music and food. Rain date Aug. 23.

Middlesex County’s Office of Culture and Heritage is proud to present a series of July events for the whole family, celebrating Independence Day and American history. This series is titled “A Revolutionary Celebration: American Independence in the Raritan Valley” and takes place throughout Highland Park, New Brunswick and Piscataway. All events in the series are free of charge and will take place rain or shine.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

• Complimentary Trolley Service from 12 to 4 p.m. Johnson Park, River Road, Piscataway

Park your car in Johnson Park at Johnson Drive and take the trolley between the Piscataway Historic Sites of East Jersey Old Town Village, the Cornelius Low House, the Metlar-Bodine House Museum and Boyd Park.

• Declaration of Independence Reading: 10 a.m. Christ Church Cemetery, 5 Paterson St., New Brunswick

A re-enactment of one of the earliest public readings of the Declaration of Independence made at the church tower on July 9, 1776 by Colonel John Neilson. Enjoy a lecture, music program and tours of the historic graveyard. For more information: 732-545-6262

• 4th of July Celebration: from 12 to 4 p.m. (Trolley stop) East Jersey Old Town Village, 1050 River Rd., Piscataway

A portrayal of George Washington with performances at 1 and 3 p.m. in the Indian Queen Tavern. Roaming music by the 3rd NJ Regiment, Fife and Drum Corps. Blacksmith and cooking demonstrations and a collection of 14 original, replica and reconstructed 18th- and 19th-century structures to tour. For more information: 732-745-3030

• The Cornelius Low House 275 Exhibit: 12 to 4 p.m. (Trolley stop) (Also open July 2 & 3 from 1 to 4 p.m.) The Cornelius Low House, 1225 River Rd., Piscataway

Immerse yourself in the history of the Low family and their lives in Colonial America on the closing day of our exhibit. On display are family letters, furniture and artifacts. For more information: 732-745-4177 Parking: Follow signs to Sutphen Road Lot on Rutgers’ Busch Campus

• Guided tours of Piscataway Township’s History Museum on the hour and half hour: 1 to 4 p.m. (Trolley stop) Metlar-Bodine House Museum, 1281 River Rd., Piscataway

The museum uses its large collection of artifacts with Central New Jersey provenance to illustrate the theme From Indian Trail to Interstate, concentrating on how transportation affected the area’s society and economics. The Dutch Door Gift Shop will be open. For more information: 732-463-8363, www.metlarbodinehousemuseum.org Parking: From River Road take Hillcrest to Logan Lane at the top of hill and make a left into the lot.

• Washington’s Feu de Joie (Fire of Joy) Salute to the American Army: 2 p.m. (Trolley stop) Elmer B. Boyd Park, Route 18 North, New Brunswick

A replication of the 1778 military declaration of American Independence on the actual ground where it occurred on the banks of the Raritan River. A single cannon will represent the American artillery and Revolutionary War foot soldiers will represent the original musket line of over 11,000 patriots that stretched 2 miles along the New Brunswick riverfront. Speakers include historians David Martin and George Dawson. For more information: 732-745-5125 Parking: Boyd Park and the Middlesex County Boat Landing (north side of the park)

• Fireworks: 6 p.m. Piscataway High School Stadium, 100 Behmer Rd., Piscataway Food, kiddie rides and music. Fireworks begin at sundown. For more information: 732-562-2382, www.piscatawaynj.org

Saturday, July 1, 2017

• A Star-Spangled Sing Along: 11 a.m. to 1p.m. Metlar-Bodine House Museum, 1281 River Rd., Piscataway

Celebrate America’s birthday with an 18th-century to present-day patriotic sing-along led by Piscataway Township School students and adult vocal and instrumental groups. Bring chairs or blankets. For more information: 732-463-8363, www.metlarbodinehousemuseum.org Parking: From River Road take Hillcrest to Logan Lane at the top of hill and make a left into the lot.

Saturday and Sunday, July 1 & 2, 2017

• Visit the American Art Gallery: 12 to 5 p.m. Zimmerli Art Museum, 71 Hamilton St., New Brunswick

Works in the gallery at Rutgers University span over three centuries and include a portrait of George Washington by Jane Stuart and the 1804 Ezra Ames painting of Simeon De Witt. Other works in the gallery are selected from the Zimmerli’s collection of 16,500 objects by American artists from the late 1700s to the 21st century, including paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, photographs and decorative arts. For more information: 848-932-7237

Sunday, July 2, 2017

• Fireworks: 5 p.m. (Rain date: July 3) Donaldson Park, South 2nd Avenue, Highland Park Live music, Youth Theater Musical Review, activities for children and food vendors. Fireworks begin at sundown. For more information: 732-819-0052

• Fireworks: 5 p.m. (Rain date: July 3) Elmer B. Boyd Park, Route 18 North, New Brunswick Food vendors, live music at 6 p.m. and fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. Bring chairs or blankets. For more information: 732-745-5125 Parking: Free at Rutgers Public Safety Deck on Neilson Street, additional parking at the Middlesex County Boat Landing and handicap parking at Boyd Park.

Sunday, July 9, 2017

• Sculpture Unveiling Ceremony: 12 p.m. Monument Square Park, 10 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick New Brunswick Public Sculpture will be unveiling its sculpture of Col. John Neilson. For more information: 732-745-5125

“Middlesex County is a great place to learn about history and celebrate America’s independence,” said. Freeholder Kenneth Armwood, Chair of the Business Development and Education Committee. “I hope many families will attend this fun and free series of events, and join in the spirit of Independence Day.”

“Anyone interested in Raritan Valley’s role in the American Revolution will want to attend this event,” said Middlesex County Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios. “One of the earliest public readings of the Declaration of Independence, just days after its signing, took place in New Brunswick. On July 4th 1778, by order of Gen. George Washington, the American Army celebrated the anniversary of its independence on the banks of the Raritan River. These events will make our residents feel like they are part of that rich history.”

This programing is sponsored by The Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, with the City of New Brunswick, the Borough of Highland Park, Piscataway Township, the Metlar Bodine House Museum, Christ Church in New Brunswick and the Zimmerli Art Museum.

For more information on these and other cultural programs, visit the County website atwww.middlesexcountynj.gov or text “Culture” to 56512 or call (732) 745-3030. Middlesex County’s Office of Culture and Heritage is proud to present a series of July events for the whole family, celebrating Independence Day and American history. This series is titled “A Revolutionary Celebration: American Independence in the Raritan Valley” and takes place throughout Highland Park, New Brunswick and Piscataway. All events in the series are free of charge and will take place rain or shine.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons image/Anthony Cramp