Town’s Annual Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks, July 3

Source: amherstma.gov

Join the Town of Amherst for the annual Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks on Friday, July 3 at UMass Amherst’s McGuirk Alumni Stadium South Lawn. This FREE event features dazzling fireworks, live entertainment, tasty food vendors, and a range of family-friendly activities. View all the details at www.amherstma.gov/fireworks.

Festivities begin at 5:30 PM, offering ample time for food, fun, and socializing before the spectacular fireworks display lights up the night sky at dark. Food, beverages, and novelty items will be available for purchase. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs. Restrooms will be conveniently available on site.

“This year marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation,” said Town Manager Paul Bockelman. “Now, more than ever, it is important for us to unite with our neighbors and friends to reaffirm the principles upon which our fragile democracy was founded. We look forward to celebrating in Amherst with our annual Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks, a cherished tradition that has united our community since 1850.”  

While this beloved community event is completely free to attend, it relies on community contributions to help the celebration shine even brighter. The Friends of Amherst Recreation graciously accept donations to help cover the cost of fireworks and other entertainment. Donations can be made online through PayPal, mailed as a check to Amherst Recreation (170 Chestnut Street, Suite 1, Amherst, MA 01002), or given in cash at the event.

“This year we aren’t just celebrating 250 years of independence – we’re celebrating 175 years of our community coming together,” said Becky Demling, Amherst Recreation Outreach Director. “We invite everyone to join us for a fun and festive evening of live music, games, great food and fireworks as we celebrate this historic occasion together.”  

Event Highlights

• Live Entertainment: Enjoy live entertainment, including:
  
  • Green Street Brew (5:45–6:15 PM) – A fun-loving a cappella group based in Northampton and a staple of the Valley’s music scene for nearly 30 years.  
  • Frost Heaves and Hales (6:45–7:30 PM) – Delivering adventurous rock ’n’ roll across the Pioneer Valley since 2005, blending energetic indie, dreamy psychedelia, and fuzzed-out Americana with imaginative, poetic lyrics.  
  • Amherst Community Band (8:00–9:30 PM) – Performing a lively program of patriotic favorites, led by guest conductors Dave Morris and Lexie Black. Their performance leads into the fireworks and continues a cherished tradition of music “by the community, for the community.”
    
• Food Trucks: Satisfy your cravings with delicious food from a variety of food vendors:
  • Batch Ice Cream
  • Caravan Kitchen
  • CremeBru.LA
  • Crooked Stick Pops
  • Island Spice
  • Local Burger
  • Mi Carritto
  • Only Kebab
  • Rustic Fusion Egg Roll
  • And more!
    
• UMass Dining Beer Garden: The UMass Beer Garden will be a great spot to celebrate independence for those patrons over 21 years old. You will find draft beer from Amherst Brewing Company and a wide variety of canned beverages. UMass Dining will also be serving slices from their new mobile pizza oven. Enjoy all of this while playing some lawn games or relaxing at the picnic tables.
  
• Family-Friendly Activities: Enjoy a variety of cash-only carnival games by Hennessy Games, let the kids bounce out their energy across four inflatable attractions, or take to the skies with tethered hot air balloon rides provided by Worthington Ballooning (cash only). There will also be an assortment of free kids’ carnival and lawn games available for everyone to enjoy!
  
• Novelty Vendors: Browse unique items and offerings from Hillio’s Novelties, Be Magical Face Paint, and Magic Tree Henna.

Parking & Transportation
General parking is available for free in several designated UMass lots, including lots 21, 22, and 33 as well as on Stadium Drive along Sortino Field and adjacent to the University Child Care and Education Center on Stadium Drive.

ADA accessible parking, senior parking and parking for veterans is conveniently located in Lot 11. Vehicles should enter Lot 11A. An ADA van service is available from the parking lot, ensuring easy and comfortable access to the event site.

Public transportation options include the PVTA bus routes B43, 31, 33, and 38, providing convenient transit options to and from the event location. For more information about the specific bus routes and their schedules, view the PVTA Schedules..

For those being dropped off by Rideshare, Uber, Lyft, etc., please set the destination as “UMass Southwest Circle.” 

Road Closures
Several road closures will be in effect during the event to ensure everyone’s safety. Starting at 5:30 pm, Rocky Hill Road will be closed from the Amity Street/University Drive intersection in Amherst to Plainville Road in Hadley. University Drive will remain open to allow access to event parking. Additionally, shortly before the fireworks display at dark, access to Route 116 will be closed from Route 9 in Hadley to Meadow Street in North Amherst. Please plan accordingly and allow extra time for your travel.

Volunteers & Sponsors
Volunteers and sponsors play a vital role in ensuring the success of this cherished event. Volunteers are needed for various roles, including supporting setup, parking, kid’s carnival, and cleanup. To learn more and sign up for volunteer opportunities, please contact the Amherst Recreation Office at rec@amherstma.gov or call 413-259-3065.

This event is made possible through the generous support of community partners and local businesses. Sponsors include UMass Amherst, Summerlin Floors, Wagner Wood, Lao Hu Tong, Renewal by Anderson, United Waste, Integrity Development and Construction, Jones Properties, Lao Hu Tong, Encharter Insurance, and Soundscape Merchandise.

In the case of inclement weather, a rain date is scheduled for Sunday, July 5th at the same time and location.

For more information about the Amherst Independence Day Celebration & Fireworks, please visit www.amherstma.gov/fireworksor contact Amherst Recreation by emailing rec@amherstma.gov or calling 413-259-3065.