The Verona Fourth of July fireworks will, as always, be a few days early this year: Thursday June, 30. That saves us a few bucks on all the razzle dazzle, and gives us the benefit of a rain date, which as of right now, doesn’t look like it will be necessary this year.
But if you need your Fourth of July fireworks to happen closer to the Fourth of July, you have some options:
On July 1, Essex County is bringing in the U.S. Military Academy Band for a free concert with fireworks at Brookdale Park on the border of Bloomfield and Montclair beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Cedar Grove’s fireworks will be at Cedar Grove High School on July 2. Take a left off Pompton (Rte. 23) just before you get to the reservoir. The rain date is Sunday, July 3.
The Meadowlands State Fair will have fireworks on both July 3 and July 4. Tickets for either day are $9 for adults and $6 for children. The gates open at 2 p.m.
Montclair, which funds its Fourth of July celebrations through private donations, has a daytime parade on Monday, July 4 that winds from the Montclair Public Library on South Fullerton across Bloomfield and Midland avenues to Edgemont Park. The town’s fireworks will be at Jackals Stadium on the evening of the Fourth. There’s no game that night, just the fireworks, and you’ll need to be with Montclair friends to get in. Same deal in West Orange, which has its fireworks at West Orange High School on the Fourth. If you want fireworks and a baseball game, try the home game at Jackals Stadium on July 2.
Macy’s Fourth of July extravaganza is on the Hudson River this year. Forget about trying to get a ticket to the celebrity guest area at this point. If you need to be close, your best best is to find a friend in Hoboken or Weehawkin or, failing that, the west side of Manhattan. But leave the car at home. You can also get a good view from the lookout in Eagle Rock Reservation near the Highlawn Pavilion, but parking is limited.
Practical details for the Verona fireworks, which will be held at Verona High School: There will be a DJ starting at 7 p.m. and the fireworks will be at dark, around 9:15. The ratio of parking spots to cars needed to be parked is always low, so try to walk. Better yet, try an alternate viewing location. The field at Laning Avenue School gives you all the airborne visuals with less of the loud noise that can start the little kids crying. Some MyVeronaNJ.com readers also take their beach chairs to the lot across from Bahr Lumber on Durrell Stret, which also has a clear view, though it is private property.
Has anyone done Laning Field? Was it really ok?
I have, which is why I recommended it. You won’t see the ground displays, but you can see pretty much all of the fireworks in the air. The sound is muffled and delayed, but some kids don’t like things so loud.
Excellent! Thank you! We are not big fans of loud booms around here.