Livingston Will Hold July 4th Bash With Fireworks And Family Friendly Festivities

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Livingston will host its 89th annual Independence Day celebration on Saturday, July 4.

The daylong festivities are mainly held on and around Memorial Oval (Robert Harp Drive), with special events at Northland Recreation Center (3 Madison Court) and Mervyn V.T. Haines Community Pool (Wahler Road). Events begin at 9 a.m. with the “largest Auto Show in New Jersey,” and end with a fireworks display at 9:15 p.m.

Regular and handicap-accessible Porta Johns will be available at the Oval. General parking is typically available in the St. Philomena’s Church lot; handicapped parking will be available in the Library parking lot, 10 Robert Harp Drive (enter from South Livingston Avenue).

For the complete schedule of events, event sponsors, and more information, visit the township website at livingstonnj.org/July4th

Here’s what to expect at this year’s family-friendly event, according to an advisory from the township:

The day will start with the largest July 4^th Car Show in New Jersey at 9:00 a.m. in the Livingston High School parking lot. The official annual welcome ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. at the Mervyn V.T. Haines Community Pool on Wahler Road and is followed by a children’s swim carnival at 10:15 a.m.

From 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., visit Northland Recreation Center to watch a cricket game organized by Sanskriti of New Jersey. If baseball is of more interest, the Livingston High School alumni baseball game will take place on the Oval from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Several activities will also take place on the Oval in the morning. First, from 10:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., join the Livingston Chinese Association, the Livingston Huaxia Chinese School, and the Living Stone Christian Church. Next, between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., there will be a child ID creation station. Additionally, starting at 12:00 p.m., there will be 22 food trucks and vendors on site.

From 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the gazebo, attendees can enjoy a free race car simulator and golf hole in one simulator. Additionally, tickets must be purchased for inflatables, mechanical rides, and a 250-foot zip line. Tickets can be purchased on site on the Oval.

Also at the gazebo, younger kids will enjoy the Hocus Pocus Magic Show from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.The Wild & Wacky Show for older kids will follow from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Don’t miss free kids’ pony rides from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the gazebo.

To round out the afternoon, there will be a reading of the Declaration of Independence at the shady picnic table area on the grassy island in front of the high school main entrance from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The traditional July 4th ice cream-eating contest will take place at 2:30 p.m. at the gazebo.

The beer and wine garden opens at 3:30 p.m. with two live bands: Brian Drux Project and Livingston Leo & The Goodhart Boyz.

As the beer and wine garden winds down, attendees are encouraged to find a spot for their blanket or chair on the Oval and prepare for the day’s grand finale. At 7:30 p.m., main stage entertainment will be provided by “New Power Soul”, followed by the township’s annual fireworks spectacular at 9:15 p.m.

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