North Andover Fourth of July Festivities

Wednesday, July 3, and Thursday, July 4, North Andover will celebrate Independence Day in style.

July 3

Wednesday is all about the fireworks, but there's also plenty of fun to be had beforehand at the Town Common.

All About Fun is providing various children's amusements, and there will be food vendors as well.

5 to 8 p.m.: DJ Russ McQueen will be on stage providing musical entertainment.

8 p.m.: The Campbell Highlanders will perform.

5 to 10 p.m.: There will be a beer and wine tent on the Common, run by the VFW.

And of course, there will be fireworks. The fireworks display will be at North Andover Middle School beginning at dusk (around 9 p.m.).

July 4

Thursday offers its own extravaganza.

The Borderline running Club will host the July 4 Road Race. Jeff Coco of the Festival Committee said there are about 800 runners signed up.

"So they're going to have quite a crowd there," he said.

• The Children's Fun Run will start at 8 a.m. and will go around the Common.
• The 5K will begin at 8:30 a.m. It will go up the Johnson Street hill, continue down Johnson Street, then down Marble Ridge back to the Common.
• The 10K will begin at 8:35 a.m. It will go up the Johnson Street hill, continue on Johnson St.  to Summer St., then down Salem Street toward the Common.

Massachusetts Avenue the length of the Common will be closed, as will Academy Road from Court Street to Massachusetts Avenue.

From 8 to 11 a.m., there will be the Cochichewick Lodge Pancake Breakfast 

There will be crafters on the Common from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There will be food vendors on the Common from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

And there will be a beer tent on the Common from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

And don't forget about the kids on bikes. The Bicycle and Doll Carriage Parade will be at 12 p.m.

All about Fun will provide various children's amusements. There will be live entertainment all day as well as a dunk tank, bungee run, pony rides, hay rides and more.

A Special Thanks

The town had lost funding for its fireworks, and Coco said the fireworks are made possible thanks to sponsorship by Lowell Five Savings Bank and a little help from Louis Minicucci of Minco Corporation.

"Luoie Miniccucci was instrumental in putting us together with Lowell Five Savings Bank, and they are the ones who donated $5,000 for the fireworks," Coco said. "We wouldn't even have fireworks without them. At the primary election, I explained to Louie how we lost our funding. Lowell Five was kind enough to step up to the plate, and that was because Louie helped match us up with them."

Be Safe

Residents are reminded to practice safety this holiday. That includes driving safely and not setting off fireworks of their own. According to the Centers for Disease Control, thousands of accidents happen every year in the United States due to improper fireworks displays.

"Patrols will be out in full force throughout the weekend," North Andover Police Lt. Charles Gray said. "Shifts will be supplemented during the fireworks as well as on the common for the festivities. The police department wishes everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July."