SAXTONS RIVER — With a theme of “Coming Home,” Saxtons River will kick off its annual Independence Day celebration Monday, July 4, with a 5K Firecracker road race at 8:30 a.m., followed by a parade at 9:30 a.m.
In addition to the race sponsored by Pleasant Valley Brew Pub, the day's activities include a street fair highlighted by water polo, a hula hoop contest and music on the bandstand. Miniature golf, an egg toss, a pie contest, and baseball games featuring all-star teams and a match between the Saxtons River Pirates and the Bellows Falls Post 37 American Legion baseball are also on the schedule.
Afternoon activities move to the Saxtons River Recreation Area, and include bingo, swimming, square dancing and old-time fiddling with Andy, Laurie and Friends, and music for dancing with the Cooper Jones Band, all topped off with fireworks at dusk. The Lisais will be selling hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks, and there will also be glow-sticks and cotton candy on sale to benefit the fireworks fund.
Parade marshals this year are Charles “Chuck” and Ruth Friedman, long-time contributors to the community.
This year's T-shirt was designed by Debbie Wetzel, a local resident and artist who co-owns Woodzels by Wetzels. It features a rocking chair on the porch of the Saxtons River Inn just waiting for a visitor. The theme is a celebration of the many former residents who hold the village in a special place in their hearts and often return to meet up with friends on the Fourth. T-shirts will be on sale the day before the Fourth in front of the Village Market and at the parade.
More information and updates are available at the Saxtons River Fourth of July page on Facebook.