No fizzle: Peabody dedicated to celebrating Fourth of July
Staff writer
There will be no carnival, vendors, or a large crowd at the park this year, but organizers of Peabody’s July Fourth celebrations intend to light up the night with fireworks.
“We felt we could put on a good show in a modified way that would not include mass crowd gathering,” said Jay Gfeller, president of Peabody’s city council.
There will be no traditional, hand-crafted ground displays this year, only aerial fireworks that can be viewed from a distance, he said. Admission will not be charged.
A live feed of the celebrations will begin broadcasting just before sunset.
Canceling the carnival was a tough decision, but many in the community have been supportive of plans to put on a modified holiday.
“None of us on the committee wanted to do this,” he said. “We waited until the very last minute to make a decision. We are still bummed out, but people have been very understanding.”
Other fun events that day will include:
- A horseshoe tournament at 7 a.m. in Peabody City Park.
- A five-kilometer run at 7 a.m. at the city park.
- A flea market at 8 a.m. in downtown Peabody.
- Modified kids’ games at the park at 10 a.m. in the park.
- A washers tournament at 11 a.m. in the park
- A parade at 5 p.m. starting at Peabody-Burns Junior/Senior High School.
Organizers are seeking donations of the fireworks and to make up for the loss of admissions fees. Collectible buttons are on sale for $3 in shops around the city.
“I see a lot of people in the park as the weather has gotten nicer,” he said. “People are walking around town enjoying getting back to being as normal as possible.”