Seasonal & Holidays
Middlesex County July 4th Fireworks, Parades and More: 2018 Guide
We've got ALL the events, from New Brunswick fireworks, Highland Park, Piscataway, plus ice-cream making and 1776 reenactments.
WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Want your 4th of July fun to last seven days? Then bring your family and join in Middlesex County’s “Revolutionary Celebration” for 2018!
Middlesex County has an incredible seven days of Independence Day activities planned this year, from June 30 and July 1-7. Explore Edison, Highland Park, New Brunswick and Piscataway to find movies, music, museums and of course, fireworks! All events are free of charge and will take place rain or shine.
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Find out what's happening in Woodbridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Saturday, June 30, 2018
- July 4 Celebrations Reception
Come join us at the Zimmerli Art Museum for a Patriotic "Day of Movement," featuring musical, cultural and dance performances by renowned local artists including: Black Circle Symphony, American Repertory Ballet, Danielle Illario, Sagrada Familia and Syr. Tasty refreshments will be provided, courtesy of Elijah's Promise's Culinary School, themed around "1776."
Find out what's happening in Woodbridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
New Brunswick, 1 to 3 p.m.
Zimmerli Art Museum, 71 Hamilton Street
For Info: 848-932-7237, www.zimmerli.rutgers.edu
Parking: Metered on Nearby Streets
- Eric Velasquez, Children’s Author and Illustrator
New Brunswick, 2 to 3:30 p.m. New Brunswick Free Public Library, 60 Livingston Ave. For Info: 732-745-5108 • Parking: Street and City
- ‘When the Armies Come to Your House’ with Deborah Peterson, Historian
Deborah Peterson, culinary & cultural historian, presents a fascinating look at what it was like for many people during the Revolutionary War when soldiers, English and Continental, came and took your food, clothing, furnishings, farm equipment and other assorted goods.
Piscataway, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Metlar-Bodine House Museum, 1281 River Road
For Info and Parking: 732-463-8363
Sunday, July 1, 2018
- A Star-Spangled Sing Along
Celebrate America's Birthday with a sing-along composed of songs from the 18th century to the present day, led by Piscataway Township School students and adult vocal and instrumental groups. Bring chairs or blankets.
Piscataway, 3 to 5 p.m.
Metlar-Bodine House Museum, 1281 River Road
For Info and Parking: 732-463-8363
Monday, July 2, 2018
- Highland Park Fireworks
Music by local bands, youth theater performance, children’s activities, and many food vendors, plus a huge fireworks display!
Highland Park, 5 to 10 p.m.
Rain date: July 3
Donaldson Park, South 2nd Avenue
For Info: 732-819-0052
Parking: Street and Handicap
- New Brunswick Fireworks
Featuring live music, children’s activities and food vendors, live reading of the Declaration of Independence and a spectacular fireworks display.
New Brunswick, 5 to 10 p.m.
Rain date: July 3
Elmer B. Boyd Park, Route 18 North
For Info: 732-745-5125
Parking: Free at Rutgers Public Safety Deck on Neilson Street,
Middlesex County Boat Landing and Handicap at Boyd Park
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
- Free Movie: “1776”
Decades before Hamilton, there was 1776, another Tony-winning Broadway musical about America's founding fathers. It's the fateful summer of 1776, and the nation is ready to declare independence... if only the Continental Congress can agree on how to do it! Celebrate the Fourth of July by taking a tuneful, toe-tapping romp through American history with Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin and John Adams, as they use every trick in the book to close the deal on the Declaration of Independence.
New Brunswick, 7 p.m.
State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue
For Info: Guest Services 732-246-7469; STNJ.org
Parking: Street and City
- Free Movie: “Independence Day”
Bring your entire family, lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy a FREE screening of the epic and action-packed "Independence Day," directed and co-written by Roland Emmerich, starring Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Vivica A. Fox and many more! The film focuses on disparate groups of people who converge in the Nevada desert in the aftermath of a worldwide alien attack. Together, they launch a last-ditch counterattack on July 4! ***Several eateries and establishments surrounding the YARD will offer select items around the theme "1776" to commemorate the July 4thCelebration series.
New Brunswick, 8 p.m.
The YARD @ College Avenue, 40 College Avenue
Parking: Street New Brunswick
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
- FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE from 12 to 4p.m.
Park your car at East Jersey Old Town Village or the Cornelius Low House and take a shuttle to participating sites.
- Declaration of Independence Reading
New Brunswick, 10 a.m.
Christ Church Cemetery, 5 Paterson Street
A re-enactment of the Declaration of Independence reading, lecture, music and refreshments.
For Info: 732-545-6262
Parking: Street and City
- Piscataway Township’s History Museum
Piscataway, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Guided Tours on the quarter hour
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!
Metlar-Bodine House Museum, 1281 River Road
For Info: 732-463-8363, metlarbodinehousemuseum.org
Parking: From River Road, take Hillcrest to Logan Lane at the top of hill, make a left and proceed to lot.
- Piscataway Lake Nelson Parade
Piscataway, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Taking place at the intersection of Nelson Avenue and Lakeside Drive South, the parade features brightly decorated bicycles, scooters, strollers, dogs and people along with the Piscataway police and fire department vehicles. Town officials also join in the fun. The parade goes around Lake Nelson and ends at Byrne Park, where there are balloon toss games, hula hoop competitions, turtle races, Sno-Cones, bake sale and other fun events. Following the parade, there is the Lake Nelson boat race open to anything that floats. The race is at 2 p.m. with lake access at the Sylvan Ave public access area.
Byrne Park/Sylvan Avenue Public Access Area
Parking: Street
- 4th of July Celebration at East Jersey Old Town
Piscataway, 12 to 4 p.m.
Meet George Washington as he tours the Village and listen to him speak at 1 and 3 p.m.
Enjoy fife and drum music, see Revolutionary War soldiers live, historic gardening and
agriculture, a 19th-century print shop, blacksmithing, home and hearth demonstrations, stone carving, and 18th-century music.
East Jersey Old Town Village, 1050 River Road
For Info: 732-745-3030 or Text CULTURE to 56512
Parking: Johnson Park
- Over There, Over Here: New Jersey During World War I Exhibit
The Cornelius Low House, 1225 River Road
Join us in commemorating the 100th anniversary of America's involvement in World War I. Explore the story, from the battlefield to the home front, in this milestone exhibit showcasing an array of artifacts and see a portrayal of WWI Doughboys.
Piscataway, 12 to 4 p.m.
Also open July 2 & 3 (1 to 4 p.m.)
For Info: 732-745-3030 or Text CULTURE to 56512
Parking: Follow signs for Sutphen Road Lot, Busch Campus
- Washington’s Feu de Joie (Fire of Joy) Salute to the American Army
New Brunswick, 2 p.m.
A re-enactment of the July, 4 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.
Elmer B. Boyd Park, Route 18 North
For Info: 732-745-3030
Parking: Boyd Park and the Middlesex County
Boat Landing (North Side of the Park)
- Piscataway annual 4th of July Fireworks
Piscataway, 6 p.m.
Piscataway High School Stadium, 100 Behmer Road
Kiddie rides, food vendors and music. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.
For Info: 732-562-2382; piscatawaynj.org
Parking: School Lot
East Brunswick Fireworks will be held on July 4 beginning at 4 p.m. Held at the East Brunswick Community Arts Center. Lots of activities for kids beforehand, get all the info here: https://patch.com/new-jersey/e...
Thursday, July 5, 2018
- Rocks Rock! A Geology Program
New Brunswick, 4 to 4:45 p.m.
New Brunswick Free Public Library, 60 Livingston Ave.
For children grades K-6. Fun (and educational) activities about rocks!
For Info: 732-745-5108
Parking: Street and City
Saturday, July 7, 2018
- 18th Century Ice Cream Making
Piscataway 2 to 4p.m.
Metlar-Bodine House Museum, 1281 River Road
Demonstration by culinary historian Susan McLellan Plaisted. From harvesting ice to molding of ice cream, this demonstration involves the production of ice cream in a reproduction 18th-century sabotiere. Only documented 18th-century flavors are reproduced using original recipes. Hands-on activities for children will be part of the fun!
For Info: 732-463-8363, metlarbodinehousemuseum.org
Parking: From River Road take Hillcrest to Logan Lane at the top of hill, make a left and proceed
to lot.
Edison's Fireworks on July 4
The celebration will be held on July 4 at Lake Papaianni at the Edison Municipal Complex. Food vendors and childrens rides will begin at 5 p.m., and music will start at 5:30 p.m. Fireworks kick off at 9 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs.
Images from Middlesex County
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