The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
July 4th festival to celebrate nation
Musical acts to include legendary Allman Brothers drummer Jaimoe
MIDDLETOWN » The skies over Harbor Park on the Connecticut River will be illuminated by pyrotechnics launched from barges positioned on the water Saturday night for the city’s annual Fourth of July festival.
The family-centered event begins at 6 p.m. and features the musical stylings of four bands this year, including one led by the legendary Allman Brothers Band drummer Jaimoe.
This celebration of the nation’s 241th birthday takes place along Harbor Drive and on the front lawn of the municipal building at 245 deKoven Drive.
“There will be plenty of food vendors at both locations featuring a wide and varied selection of tastes,” said Stephan Allison, city arts coordinator.
Food trucks will be stationed on lower Court Street and DeKoven and Harbor drives. They include Deb’s Café, Iguanas Ranas Taqueria, Jerry’s Pizza, Mr. Softee, Munchies Food Truck, Musterdogs, New England Soft Serve, Nutmeg Concessions, Perk on Wheels, Raw YOU-niverse, Spuds Your Way, Bakery Boys, Thai Kitchen/Indochine Pavilion, The Celiac Epicurean, Ted’s Restaurant, Vecchitto’s Italian Ice, World’s Best Sundae and New England Novelties.
“And, of course, there’s live music beginning at 6 p.m. with the blues,” Allison said.
The band is the blues act, Sweet Daddy Cool Breeze with Jaimoe, from 6 to 7 p.m. Also, the Boston-based Cuban-influenced salsa dance music of Los Sugar Kings will follow from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m.
“It’s summertime and the music fits the heat,” Allison said. “We wind up the evening with live music from the Middletown Symphonic Band, which will perform patriotic music through the entire fireworks display.”
The fireworks will kick off at about 9:30 p.m. The group’s set will begin at 8:40 p.m.
All performances take place on deKoven Drive. The Middletown High School Jazz Ensemble will also play an extended set at the harbor from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Free parking will be available in lots throughout the city and there are multiple viewing sites.
Parking can be found along Main Street and in Melilli Plaza, municipal lots on Broad Street, the commuter parking lot on Eastern Drive, Connecticut Valley Hospital grounds. Handicapped parking is available at the South Parking Lot on Harbor Drive and Upper City Hall Parking Lot.
There will be road closings from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. in areas downtown.
The best spectator viewing areas are near City Hall, the harbor and at the Upper Riverview Parking Arcade and Connecticut Valley Hospital grounds.
The festival is pedestrian-friendly with no cars on the sites, Allison said.
Rain date is Sunday. For information, call 860-6384801 or visit the City Arts Office on Facebook.