July 4th, 2008

Celebrating Our Founding Fathers

Overview of Events

Amherst’s big Fourth of July Celebration will take place on Thursday, July 3 and Friday, July 4 this year. Music, fireworks, food, a children’s bicycle parade, bands, floats, and special parade events—there will be something for everyone to enjoy!

The theme this year, Celebrating Our Founding Fathers, grew out of a desire to pay homage to those men who wrote the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. With Independence Day we are celebrating what they made possible.

On Thursday evening, thanks to the financial support of the town and the Granite State Credit Union, the major sponsor, there will be a larger than ever fireworks display made possible by Jack Reed and his volunteers. Preceding the fireworks will be music by a local band, the FM Angels, juggling by Jen Agans and Nathan Schwartzberg, magic by George the Magician, a concert by the Amherst Town Band under the direction of Pat Anderson, and food chosen for keeping costs at a family friendly level—hamburgers and hot dogs cooked by Lions Club members, pulled pork sandwiches from the Homestead, Sal’s pizza, Ritchie’s slush, Jake’s ice cream, SHARE desserts, and drinks sold by the Fourth of July Committee. The pizza, slush, ice cream, and drinks are fundraisers to support the Fourth of July festivities.

Also on the evening of July 3rd, the Committee will be introducing the new 2008 Fourth of July pin designed by Amherst Middle School student Brooke Carlson. The pin is the fourth in a series designed by students in the Amherst schools. A few pins from previous years will also be available.

On the Fourth, the parade will step off from Wilkins School at 10:00 a.m. Puppies will gather at Spalding Field under the direction of Mary Beyers and Gabby Sellers and join the parade from there. The Preschool in the Village will join the parade from the tennis courts on Davis Lane while the Bicycle Parade, run by the Lions Club and led by Lion Ann Hoag, will gather at Knight’s Field at the end of Main Street before leading the parade down Main Street past the reviewing stand.

Antique cars, pre 1960 or special interest vehicles, will gather on New Boston Road near the Wilkins School before entering the parade under Chris Nowlan’s supervision. The cars are a favorite of many people—both riding in them and watching them! Period costumes, always a great addition on people in the cars, are encouraged but not required. At the conclusion of the parade the cars will be displayed on the church side of the village green and awards will be presented in a variety of classes and for best overall presentation.

The New Hampshire Police Association Pipes and Drums, the Campbell Highlanders, the Amherst Town Band, the Husdon Post Band, and our own Kazoo band will be with us this year! Also present will be the Wheelmen on their unicycles, the Shriners’ and their Mini Kars, the NH First Revolutionary War Regiment, and the NH Fifth Civil War Regiment, Amherst’s own Uncle Sam on Stilts, local marchers, clowns and floats. The political part of the parade is expected to feature local and state candidates.

The Fourth of July Art Show, a tradition that has grown and flourished to the delight of everyone, will feature over thirty-five artists from New England. Strolling “artists’ alley” is a rewarding experience that many people look forward to each year. People have been known to find their favorite artists while strolling one year and then return to these same artists the next year (and the next!) to buy a painting or two.

The enthusiastic participation of local organizations attests to the strength of community that typifies Amherst. Local organizations manning booths will include Captain Josiah Crosby Chapter of the DAR giving out information and selling patriotic necklaces, fan, flags, and bracelets; the Historical Society of Amherst selling books, T-shirts, ornaments and giving out membership brochures; the Questers-Villagers selling shelf sitters, and coloring books; St. Paul Lutheran Church offering religious literature; the Souhegan Scholarship Foundation offering pamphlets and information; the Lions Club selling raffle tickets and giving away popcorn for a donation; the Animal Rescue League giving away bumper stickers, kid’s tattoos, and Frisbees; the Amherst Junior Women’s Club selling hot dogs, soda, water, and chips; the Friends of the Amherst Town Library selling used books and puzzles; the Messiah Lutheran Church selling cotton candy; the Amherst Conservation Commission giving away brochures and information; St. Luke’s Church giving away watermelon, spinning wheels, balloons, and religious literature; Every Child Matters in NH painting faces and giving away T-shirts, bumper stickers and get-out-the-vote information; and the Amherst First Baptist Church providing face painting, a pitching machine game, and religious literature! The Fourth of July committee will be selling hamburgers, drinks, and pizza.

Besides the attractions that some of the booths have for the children, there will also be pocket ladies with free gifts, clowns to make balloon animals, and live animals to look at and pet. Diane DeSimone and her mom have been pocket ladies for several years and enjoy letting children pick the pocket that they think has the prize they would like. Diane Hirst, in charge of the animals on the green, has arranged for guide dogs, bunnies, goats, sheep, and a donkey. This year she is also hoping to have a baby donkey visit the green!

Also special this year will be the 4th of July clowns! Besides the Granite State clowns who have been part of the festivities the past few years, there will be the “graduates” of the Fourth of July Clown Workshops run by Kristi Parker. Thanks to Kristi, also known as Krickey the Clown, the Amherst Fourth of July Committee in conjunction with the Granite State Clowns was able to offer three workshops in clowning. Participants learned how to do a clown face and costume and some of the techniques of clowning. Workshop sessions featured lots of information and lots of laughs. These junior (and a couple of senior) clowns will try out their new skills on the Fourth.

Back again this year will be old-fashioned craft demonstrations including spinning, weaving, blacksmithing, rug hooking, and coil pottery. Vinnie Anfuso, the blacksmith, will once again announce the beginning of the reviewing stand ceremony with a blast from his cannon. At the reviewing stand ceremony dignitaries will be introduced, the Citizen of the Year will be announced, and awards will be presented. Following the Reviewing Stand Ceremony there will be the always popular Talent Show! Sign-ups for the show will be at the Committee Information Tent from 10:00 o’clock on and performers will appear in the order of signing up. Anyone, young or old, with a talent, great or small, that might be entertaining to the audience is urged to participate. Some of the past talent has been amazing.

The Fourth of July is a big undertaking made manageable by the enthusiastic help of many people. It is the efforts of all the volunteers that combine to give the celebration its small-town feel and unique Amherst touch. Residents run the fundraising events, man the booths, march in the parade, work on the floats, play in the town band, provide the fireworks, and organize the events.