It’s Back! Independence Day Children’s Parade And Games On The South Amherst Common – July 3

After a one year hiatus due to the pandemic, the annual children’s celebration of Independence Day will return to the South Amherst Common on July 3. beginning at 9:30 a.m. All South Amherst residents are cordinally invited to join their neighbors for a morning of children’s games, refreshments and a parade (see schedule in flyers below).

Until last year, the South Amherst July 4th celebration had been an annual event since the 1940s, when it started as a community gathering organized by South Church Amherst.  In recent years the event has been organized at the grassroots level, with no sponsors, no funding other than donations, and fully staffed by volunteers.

The beautiful thing about this event is that it is entirely kid-focused, with a tricycle parade around the South Amherst Common (bikes, scooters, strollers, and non-motorized floats are also welcomed), games like the three-legged race, potato-sack race, and penny scramble, and free watermelon, ice cream, and lemonade for all. Neighbors greet neighbors, kids reconnect with old friends and make new friends, and everyone has a lovely time and hopefully doesn’t get too sunburned.

“This is what the Fourth of July should be about,” is a sentiment often heard at the event.