The following is from the July 4th Committee of the Maplewood Civic Association:
Maplewood invites you to a full day of festivities in Memorial Park, with live music, boardwalk games, face painting, a classic car show, the Zerbini Family Circus, and much, much more! Opening ceremonies will be held at 8 AM in Ricalton Square, and the fireworks display begins at 9:15 PM.
New this year will be a day-long fun-filled fair environment with food court, attractions and entertainment featuring Maplewood’s First 4th of July Car Show, a food zone with sheltered and open-air tables and chairs, live music, vendors and boardwalk games such as ring toss and spin the wheel games and bouncy and fun house. These are in addition to our perennial 4th of July favorites: Kids’ Bikes, Etc. Parade, Kids’ Dashes & Relays, CHS Robotics, Art Project, Ice Cream Eating Contests, Tennis Contests, Baking Contest, Karaoke, Kids’ Percussion, Pet Awards Show and more — all of which are included in the price of a wristband.
Wristbands are required for entry to events in Memorial Park. More information from the July 4th Committee:
This year’s Fourth of July fairgrounds will be accessible from four entrance gates, spread across the north and south fields of Memorial Park. The opening ceremony is at 8am at Ricalton Square and the first scheduled activities at Memorial Park begin at 9am.
Wristbands will be required for entry beginning at 10am. These can be purchased online until July 3rd or at any of our gates on July 4th.
Sold online and at entrance gates on July 4th in Memorial Park, $10 Wristband includes All-day Access, Concert and Fireworks; add the Circus for only $5 more. Group discounts are only available online ahead of the event. Buy in advance for great prices and to guarantee your circus time! For example, circus 4-packs include FREE fireworks and entertainment tickets, a $60 value for $43.19 (40.00 plus 3.19 fee).
There will be activities all day, rain-or-shine in The Big Events Tent! We’ll be posting an event schedule of all activities that will be taking place throughout the day under the tent. Check web site for times and details.
Big Events Tent activities include:
BAKING CONTEST (all ages) — (entries need to be at Big Events Tent in Memorial Park South Field between 9 and 9:30 am). Awards categories include cake, pie, pastry, bread, cookie/bar and presentation. Judging directed by Janet Crane.
BE YOUR OWN DJ hosted by Sam Ash
FACE PAINTING
ICE CREAM EATING CONTESTS, presented by Maplewood Rotary (K-12 & Adults).
KARAOKE by New Jersey DJ Services LLC
KIDS’ PERCUSSION organized by South Mountain YMCA
ROBOTICS CLUB CHS students display and demonstrate
PET AWARDS SHOW Bring your pets of all types and all sizes
… and other talent!
In addition, all day there will be a FOOD COURT and VENDORS; Boardwalk AMUSEMENTS (games, bouncy house, funhouse). Be sure to check out the DUNK TANK fundraiser to benefit the Recue Squad.
Schedule of 4th of July EVENTS:
7 am register for 7:30 a.m. Annual 4TH OF JULY 5K RUN starts and finishes on Dunnell Road near the Civic House (124 Dunnell). Separate registration and fee required. Benefits CHS Cross-Country Team.
7:45 am Kids and adults assemble at Ricalton Square for the 8 a.m. OPENING CEREMONIES. VFW color guard and representatives of the Township Committee will lead the Flag Salute and Anthem.
8:15 am KIDS’ BIKES, ETC. PARADE steps off from Ricalton Square. All are invited to create original parade entries. Parade concludes in Memorial Park for 9 am Kids’ Races.
9 am KIDS’ DASHES & RACES organized by South Mountain YMCA. Requires parent or guardian sign-up at races. 30-yard dash (ages 6–8), 50-yard dash (9 & up), Relay Race and special races for age 5 & under.
9–9:30 am drop off BAKING CONTEST entries at Big Events Tent.
10 am–3:30 pm MAPLEWOOD’S FIRST JULY 4TH CAR SHOW. Car owners can register free online at www.maplewoodcivic.org.
10 am Participatory community ART PROJECT. Art “pixels” begun all around town starting in May will be installed and displayed on Memorial Park baseball backstop. Open to all ages and presented by John Kaufman; sponsored by Memorial Post 10120 VFW and 1978 Maplewood Arts Center.
11 am TENNIS CONTESTS at Civic House tennis courts: fastest serve and most accurate serve. Presented by Maplewood Recreation Tennis Program.
1, 3:30 and 6 pm The ZERBINI FAMILY CIRCUS performs under the Big Top, rain or shine. Go online (www.maplewoodcivic.org) to select your choice of show time. Advance purchase discounts are available online. Remaining seats on event day will be sold first-come first-served! Zerbini, part of eight generations of circus people, is an old-fashioned, traditional family circus with acrobats, juggling, clowning, and dog and pony shows. There are concessions, ship slide, pony and camel rides.
All-day concert stage featuring LIVE MUSIC beginning 2 pm “PARK AVENUE” and “THE JERSEY GIRLS”
Before the fireworks climax of the evening, there will be a LIGHT SHOW SPECTACULAR and DANCE PARTY in front of the stage with DJ Jimmy B. NJ DJ Services LLC.
9:15 pm Dazzling FIREWORKS close and loud! Parental discretion advised for small children and pets.
In case of inclement Weather, check website morning of July 4th.
Maplewood’s Annual July 4th celebration has been organized by the July Fourth Committee of the Maplewood Civic Association since 1902. Over a century ago, July Fourth was celebrated in Maplewood with a town-wide picnic, a keynote speaker, athletic contests and barbecues. The Maplewood Civic Association was organized and dedicated to a tradition of family-oriented celebrations. Volunteer for the Fourth! Volunteers enable Maplewood’s July 4th to continue as a community-wide endeavor. Get involved — sign up at www.maplewoodcivic.org!
