Fireworks Near Me: Swampscott July 4th 2024 Events

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Independence Day is fast approaching so it's time to find out where you can celebrate in and around Swampscott. Area events include fireworks, festivals and other Fourth of July fun.

To help you fit it all in on your 4th of July calendar, Patch has put together a guide to what's going on in Swampscott and the surrounding areas.

July 4 Festivities For 2024

What: Swampscott July 3 Fireworks
Where: Town Hall Lawn
When: 5 to 9:15 p.m.

The Swampscott Town Hall Lawn will host a day of food, music and a beer garden beginning at 5 p.m. with fireworks set to start at dusk (about 9 p.m.).

The Blue Honey Drops take the stage at 5:30 p.m followed by Lois and the Daily Planets at 7 p.m.
Onsite will be three beer vendors, nine food vendors, and a glitter tattoo artist.

What: Swampscott Fourth of July Races
Where: Phillips Park
When: 9:30 a.m.

The day of sprints for those ranging from toddlers to 60-plus will take place beginning at 10:30 with a donation to the Anchor Food Pantry the fee for competing. Suggested donations include cereal boxes, granola bars, macaroni and cheese and fruit juice boxes.

The race categories include a 15-yard dash for children ages 2 and under, a 20-yard dash for children 3-5, a 25-yard dash for children in kindergarten, a 35-yard dash for first through third grade, a 40-yard dash for fourth through eighth grade and a 50-yard dash for adult age categories ages 14-25, 26-39, 40-59 and 60-plus.

What: 81st Shaw Estate Swampscott Horribles Parade
Where: Aspen Road
When: 9:30 a.m.

The 81st Shaw Estate Horribles Parade begins on Aspen Road and travels across Forest Street and around Lexington Circle.

Awards are presented for best costumes, floats, bikes, rollerblades/scooters/skateboards, pets, houses along the parade route and adult horribles.

Refreshments and prizes will be given to all participants.

The parade is rain or shine.

Today, Americans celebrate the birth of a new nation with fireworks, parades, concerts, and family gatherings and barbecues. Celebrations, though, predate by centuries the designation of Independence Day as a federal holiday, which didn’t happen until 1941.

During the pivotal summer of 1776, the pre-Revolutionary celebrations honoring King George III’s birthday were replaced with mock funerals as a symbolic break from the crown.

It was an exciting time in Philadelphia — the Continental Congress voted to break from the crown and, two days later on July 4, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the original 13 colonies —New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland. Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia — to adopt the Declaration of Independence.

The first annual commemoration of the nation’s independence was in Philadelphia on July 4, 1777, while the Revolutionary War was ongoing. Fireworks have been part of Fourth of July festivities since the first celebration in Philadelphia.