NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Celebrate Independence Day in the town where it was first celebrated!
Today, New Jersey Historical Society will give a talk about George Washington at Buccleuch Mansion at Buccleuch Park at 1:30pm.
New Brunswick is having a 4th of July weekend with a full schedule of events for this Sunday, the 7th, ending with a dazzling firework display over the Raritan river.
All of the following events, brought to you by the city of New Brunswick, New Brunswick Public Sculpture, and the State Theatre, will be free, open to the public, and no reservations are required!
The festivities kick off at the State Theatre (15 Livingston Ave), with a free screening of 1776 (the 1972 musical) at 5pm.
The movie, starring William Daniels and Howard Da Silva, is the film version of the Broadway musical comedy about the Revolutionary War-era events leading up to America’s independence on July 4th, 1776. It will be displayed on the State Theatre’s 46-foot wide projection screen.
First 100 attendees to the event will receive a copy of “The Costitution of the United States.” American flags will be sold at the State Theatre’s gift shop.
Following the movie will be an open discussion, hosted by the NJ Historical Society. Those who take part in the Q&A will be entered to win one of 5 giveaways of a scroll of the “Declaration of Independence.”
At 8pm, there will be a live reading of the “Declaration of Independence” with New Brunswick Historian George Dawson at Monument Square (where George St. and Livingston Ave. meet).
This part of Livingston Ave will be closed off, inaccessible by vehicle.
The live reading will also feature re-enactors in the crowd and children, plus members of the city’s Play S.A.F.E. (Summer Activities for Everyone) program.
There will be a march from Monument Square to Boyd Park, led by a color guard.
Did you know?
On July 9th, 1776, the third public reading in the nation of the Declaration of Independence took place on the corner of Albany St. and Neilson Ave by Colonel John Neilson on top of a table dragged out of a local tavern.
At Boyd Park, Dawson will tell the story of how New Brunswick came to be the first city in the nation to celebrate Independence Day on the 4th of July, as proclaimed by Army Commander-in-Chief George Washington.
At 9:15pm, the national anthem will be sung as the color guard displays their flags.
New Brunswick Elks Lodge, the Middlesex County Sheriff Department, New Brunswick Police and Fire Departments, Rutgers University, and the Knights of Colombus are all invited to partake in this event.
The city plans on firing a cannon, provided by the Friends of Monmouth, just before the fireworks display at 9:25pm!
Fireworks on this Independence Day were made possible due to the efforts of New Brunswick recreation, the City Market, Prologis, and Johnson & Johnson.
The estimated cost of the fireworks is $4,000, as well $675 for the cannon.
Neighboring Towns Celebrate Independence Day
On July 3rd, fireworks were displayed in the towns of Franklin, Woodbridge, South Amboy, and Carteret.
Today, Monroe and Milltown will set off their fireworks.
Cranbury has its fireworks planned for July 5th.
Perth Amboy has decided not to display fireworks, “due to the affects of Superstorm Sandy on the Perth Amboy waterfront.”
According to this njtoday.net article, Perth Amboy will instead hold a bell-ringing ceremony on July 4th.
Molly O'Brien started writing for New Brunswick Today as a freelance reporter in February 2013.
Molly writes stories on government, arts, free events, bilingual events, education and more.
Molly graduated from Rutgers University with a B.A. in French Linguistics and Linguistics, where she also studied Writing and Journalism. Molly also graduated Rutgers Law School.
She is open to any suggestions for stories or tips. You may contact her via text at 732-743-8993.
