Your Guide to the Fourth of July on Cape Cod
Susan Vaughn: Cape Cod Times
The Fourth of July in many towns across Cape Cod will provide plenty to celebrate the nation’s independence with traditional parades and fireworks, baseball games, concerts and family activities. Since the holiday is on Tuesday, some of the events will begin earlier.
Friday, June 23: Fireworks at Mashpee Middle-High School
Mashpee will blast off with the earliest fireworks on June 23 at Mashpee Middle-High School, starting with family fun events at 5 p.m. At 5 p.m., the town will host a community picnic at the school's athletic fields. The event, which has drawn 6,000 to 7,000 people in past years, returns after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
Friday, June 30: Brewster holds Festival of the Arts
Brewster will hold a Fourth of July Festival of the Arts from June 30 through July 2 with an array of arts and crafts, starting at 10 a.m. each day.
Saturday, July 1: Mashpee Powwow and Orleans fireworks
Mashpee Wampanoag Powwow Grounds will be the site of the colorful annual event July 1-3 that draws Native Americans and visitors to celebrate the tribal culture. Gates open at 10 a.m.
Orleans fireworks will kick off the weekend on July 1 at dusk at Rock Harbor. The rain date is July 5.
Sunday, July 2: Chatham fireworks
Chatham will have fireworks on July 2, starting with various children’s activities at Veterans Park at 6 p.m.
Tuesday, July 4: Barnstable host parades, ice cream and a boat parade
The Barnstable parade for the village and West Barnstable residents begins at 9 a.m. at the Barnstable County Courthouse complex and ends there. Cotuit’s parade begins at 11 a.m. in front of the post office and ends at the former Cotuit Elementary School. Hyannisport’s celebration begins with a fun run at 9 a.m. followed by the parade at 11 a.m. beginning at the Hyannis Port Post Office to the West Beach Club.
Centerville’s parade starts at 10:30 a.m. at Centerville Elementary School with a flag-raising and Pledge of Allegiance. The parade will go along Bumps River Road, Park Avenue and Main Street to the Centerville Recreation Center where hot dogs, ice cream and water will be served. Cape Cod Baseball League players will be there to greet paradegoers.
The final parade of the day in Barnstable will be the Hyannis Harbor Boat Parade of decorated watercraft starting in Hyannis Marina at 4:30 p.m. and circling the inner harbor. Following the boat parade, downtown Hyannis will be closed to vehicle traffic from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for a wide variety of music and dance performances, called “Dancing in the Streets,” that will lead up to a free concert by the Cape Symphony in Aselton Park.
“This is a very multi-cultural celebration,” Amy Harwood, marketing outreach manager of the town Planning and Development Department, said, noting a range of performances and dance styles from around the world that will invite the public’s participation. Movement Cape Cod is partnering with the town and the Barnstable Improvement District to present the entertainment.
The symphony, led by Artistic Director and Conductor Jung-Ho Pak, will feature special guests and a blend of pop, Broadway, patriotic and Americana music. All the day’s events are free and no tickets are required. Hyannis has several free municipal parking lots as well as metered spaces in some lots and at the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority.
Tuesday, July 4: Falmouth decorating contest and fireworks
Falmouth will celebrate with its 3rd annual Patriotic Home and Business Decorating Contest when homes and businesses will showcase their patriotic pride. A route map will be available. At dusk, Falmouth Heights Beach will be the site of fireworks accompanied by music on PIXY 103 radio.
Tuesday, July 4: Bourne parade
A Fourth of July parade will be held in Bourne, starting at 10 a.m. that travels along Main Street. The military group starts at Cohasset Avenue, then goes onto Main Street in Buzzards Bay and leads the parade.The regular participants start at the Mass Maritime Academy and enter after all the branches of the military. It ends at the Town Hall.
Tuesday, July 4: Sandwich parade
Sandwich events start with a parade at 11 a.m. from the Henry T. Wing School and events throughout the day include a road race, community picnic, field games, local band concert and boat parade on Shawme Pond before the fireworks there at 10 p.m.
Tuesday, July 4: Chatham parade
One of the nation’s oldest and Cape’s largest July 4th parades is in Chatham. It starts at 9:30 a.m. at Shore Road and runs along Main Street and up Crowell Road. Parking restrictions on Main Street will begin at 2:30 a.m.
Tuesday, July 4: Orleans parade
Orleans’ parade kicks off from Eldredge Parkway at 10 a.m. and loops through town to Nauset Regional Middle School.
Tuesday, July 4: Wellfleet parade
The July 4th parade in Wellfleet begins at 9:30 a.m. with classic cars followed by a float parade at 10 a.m. The route begins at the Town Pier and ends at Town Hall.
Tuesday, July 4: Provincetown parade and fireworks
The Provincetown parade begins at 11 a.m. at the Harbor Hotel and travels on Commercial Street to Franklin Street. Fireworks will be shot off in Provincetown Harbor at dusk.
Tuesday, July 4: Cape Cod Baseball League
For those who would rather celebrate at America’s favorite pastime, the Cape Cod Baseball League will hold free games on the 4th: Harwich at Brewster at 5 p.m., Cotuit at Falmouth at 4:30 p.m., Yarmouth-Dennis at Hyannis at 6 p.m., Bourne at Wareham at 6 p.m. and Chatham at Orleans at 6:30 p.m.
