What New Hampshire Town Has the Best July 4th Parade and Celebrations? (Derry: hotel, home)

[CometVoyager]

Just curious what all your thoughts are regarding which New Hampshire Town has the Best July 4th Parade and Celebrations? How good was it and what made it your most wonderful 4th of July experience?

Also lets not forget to thank our young men and woman in our armed forces serving and protecting all of us. After all we would not be able to have these fun filled 4th of July days without the bravery and sacrifices they have made for us!

[DareToDream]

Originally Posted by CometVoyager

Also lets not forget to thank our young men and woman in our armed forces serving and protecting all of us. After all we would not be able to have these fun filled 4th of July days without the bravery and sacrifices they have made for us!

Amen to that Comet!

Oddly enough the 4th of July is one time Littleton does NOT have a parade...it has more parades than I've ever seen, but on on the 4th. We have fireworks tomorrow night, though

We had our "big summer event" with Summerfest. We have gone to the Mt. Washington Hotel for their fireworks in the past - they have a lot of 4th of July activities - we park along the road to watch the fireworks for free

[newhampshiregirl]

There's a "hometown" style parade in Waterville Valley on July 4 in the afternoon - huge fireworks show in the evening. Lots of homemade floats and decorated bicycles, plus the valley-wide trolley gets decked out and filled with flag waving kids. There's actually tons going on in town from the 4th through the 6th. The 5th is an Independence Day Festival (my daughter will be there grilling up burgers & dogs at the fire department BBQ!).

Click here for a list of all the goings on.

[bignhfamily]

Bradford is the best. Parade, chicken BBQ, plenty of stuff for the kids, music and of course fireworks. This year they are celebrating on the 5th. Come on up.

[CometVoyager]

Originally Posted by bignhfamily

Bradford is the best. Parade, chicken BBQ, plenty of stuff for the kids, music and of course fireworks. This year they are celebrating on the 5th. Come on up.

Heaven for me would be to attend every July 4th BBQ in New Hampshire however the end result would be me feeling like a beached whale!

[newhampshiregirl]

Originally Posted by bignhfamily

Bradford is the best. Parade, chicken BBQ, plenty of stuff for the kids, music and of course fireworks. This year they are celebrating on the 5th. Come on up.

Uh oh bignhfamily! I sense a competition here...Bradford vs. Waterville Valley! Hmmmmm...who'll be the judge?!

[CometVoyager]

Originally Posted by newhampshiregirl

There's a "hometown" style parade in Waterville Valley on July 4 in the afternoon - huge fireworks show in the evening. Lots of homemade floats and decorated bicycles, plus the valley-wide trolley gets decked out and filled with flag waving kids. There's actually tons going on in town from the 4th through the 6th. The 5th is an Independence Day Festival (my daughter will be there grilling up burgers & dogs at the fire department BBQ!).

Click here for a list of all the goings on.

I have heard about the Waterville Valley July 4th Celebrations and to me it is amazing that such a small community can pull off such a wonderful turn out, as I think the town has only 300 people.

Was wondering how long has this been going on? I think they only have like a volunteer fire dept etc and not even a local police station.

Is Derry having a Parade today?

Happy Birthday America!

[bignhfamily]

Originally Posted by newhampshiregirl

Uh oh bignhfamily! I sense a competition here...Bradford vs. Waterville Valley! Hmmmmm...who'll be the judge?!

OK, having been to Waterville Valley for one of it's 4th of July celebrations, I must admit, it is pretty spectacular. I'm just partial to Bradford as once I make a pig of myself and watch the fire works, it's such a short drive home!

Happy 4th newhampshiregirl and to all CD posters everywhere.

[newhampshiregirl]

Originally Posted by bignhfamily

OK, having been to Waterville Valley for one of it's 4th of July celebrations, I must admit, it is pretty spectacular. I'm just partial to Bradford as once I make a pig of myself and watch the fire works, it's such a short drive home!

Happy 4th newhampshiregirl and to all CD posters everywhere.

I hear ya bignhfamily!

It looks like it's going to be a beautiful day today, so have a fun and safe Independence Day!

[newhampshiregirl]

Originally Posted by CometVoyager

I have heard about the Waterville Valley July 4th Celebrations and to me it is amazing that such a small community can pull off such a wonderful turn out, as I think the town has only 300 people.

Was wondering how long has this been going on? I think they only have like a volunteer fire dept etc and not even a local police station.

Is Derry having a Parade today?

Happy Birthday America!

Hi CometVoyager! They say Waterville Valley has an official population of 305, I think. But that's permanent residents. There are lots of second home property owners and vacationers that swell that number. They've been doing fireworks and a parade on the 4th for all the years I've lived here (27 years), and the fireworks draw people from all over.

Re the fire department, it is a "call" department, but fire is part of a "department of public safety" so all the paid staff are certified firefighters, police officers AND at least EMT 1. So, you're just as likely to see the fire chief answering police calls as you are to see the police chief responding to a fire or ambulance call. It's a pretty unique set-up.

My daughter's 16 and just graduated from the NH Fire Explorer Training Academy as a firefighter, so she is SO EXCITED to join the Waterville Valley fire department. The staff there are wonderful mentors.

Happy Independence Day to you all.