The streets of Montpelier have been pretty quiet on Independence Day over the past couple of years. We know the community has been eager to come together to celebrate, and the parade and fireworks have been greatly missed. We’re happy to say that the Montpelier Alive team has been hard at work to bring back the Capital City’s largest festival of the year!
Spread your blanket on the State House lawn, or bring your chairs, and enjoy a ringside seat for the Independence Day parade, live music and dance, and spectacular fireworks. July 3 is the best day of the year in Montpelier, when everyone comes together for family activities and picnics in the heart of the Capital City. More than 35 food and craft vendors offer everything from traditional fried dough to authentic street tacos. There’s something for everybody—a national holiday celebrated in a small town way.
Kick off Montpelier’s Independence Day celebration at 2pm with our Food Truck extravaganza on State Street and special performances at our State House Lawn Family Stage. We will be joined by local talent Jon Gailmor, and Kerubo, followed by our featured performers from Rhode Island, Big Nazo and the Providence Drum Troupe! Big Nazo is an inter-galactic puppetry group whose stage show will delight both eyes and ears. Their counterpart, the Providence Drum Troupe, will be providing rhythms with their 8-piece ensemble, weaving theater and music together in a spectacular show.
Things kick into even higher gear at 6pm with the Montpelier Mile, presented by Onion River Outdoors. This classic one-mile race runs through historic downtown Montpelier in front of thousands of spectators! The race is followed by central Vermont’s favorite parade, with more fun and performances than ever. After the parade, the action shifts to the State House Lawn where Raized on Radio will be performing a headline show from 7-9:30pm. The night will be capped off by an epic fireworks show, presented by NorthCountry Federal Credit Union!
Our central Vermont community has endured the challenges of an on-going pandemic, and economic volatility in its aftermath. Montpelier’s July 3rd Independence Day Celebration will raise us up in all the ways we need, bringing together the many pieces of our community fabric that make us strong. The countdown has begun, we hope to see you there!
For more information, to enter the parade, or to volunteer, visit: www.montpelieralive.org/july3