july 4th

Maplewood 4th of July Guide

A full day of old-fashioned fun, including a circus and fireworks, for the whole family.

By Carolyn Maynard-Parisi June 29, 2012

Maplewood's annual Fourth of July celebration is next week, and Patch has all the information you need to plan your day.

There is a full day of events is organized by the wonderful folks who make up the July 4th Committee of the Maplewood Civic Association.

If you were wondering about the history of this event, here is some background, courtesy of a press release from the committee:

July Fourth in Maplewood, over a century ago, was celebrated with a town-wide picnic, a keynote speaker (usually a politician), athletic contests and barbecues. Citizens, generally in groupings by neighborhood, made their way to the picnic grounds. Informal processions gradually turned into elaborate parades with costumes and bands, becoming fierce (and expensive) competitions between neighborhoods. The July Fourth Committee was formed to unite the township activities. Eventually the Maplewood Civic Association was organized, encompassing the Committee and dedicated to a tradition of family-oriented July Fourth celebrations.

A $10 tag per person gets you entree to the entire day of activities, including the Circus. Tags are available at the Town Hall Clerk’s Office, the Maplewood Memorial Libraries (both Main and Hilton branches), the Recreation Dept. at Town Hall and DeHart Park. Tags also will be for sale on July 4th in Memorial Park and at Evening Event Entrance Gates.

Here is the schedule of events:

8:00 a.m. Opening Ceremonies at Ricalton Square

8:15 a.m. Parade steps off from Ricalton Park with everything you can push, pedal or pull; decorated red, white & blue; all ages.

9:00 a.m. Kids’ Dashes & Relays in athletic field opposite Town Hall

9:00 to 9:40 a.m. 4th of July 5K Run, Start & Finish on Oakview Avenue near Field House, (This requires a separate registration and fee:

maplewood5k4july@aol.com. Organized by CHS Cross-Country Team parents and faculty)

9:00 a.m. CHS Robotics Club students display & demonstrate at Skate House

10:00 a.m. Circle Frame Kids’ Art Project downhill from RR station: “Amity, Unity, Infinity” by John Kaufman; sponsors: Memorial Post 10120 VFW & 1978 Arts Center; with story-theater by the Strollers

11:00 a.m. Ice Cream Eating Contests in picnic area next to tennis courts, sponsored and presented by Maplewood Rotary

11:00 a.m. Tennis Contests at Civic House tennis courts: fastest serve and most accurate serve; presented by Maplewood Recreation Tennis Program

11:30 a.m. Baking Contest in Town Hall; all ages. Judging directed by Janet Crane. Baking Contest entries need to be at Town Hall between 9 – 9:30 a.m.

12:00 noon Town Hall Murals in Town Hall: Durand-Hedden House volunteers will talk about the history of Maplewood through its murals.

12 to 3:00 p.m. Adult Softball in Athletic field opposite Town Hall

12:00 noon Kids’ Percussion Forest downhill from RR station, sponsored and presented by Jamie Ross

12:00 noon Pet Awards Show in front of Main Library: All Types, All Sizes! Organized and Presented by New Jersey Animal Coalition

Note that $10 per person tag is required for admission to the Circus and to concert/fireworks spectator area.

1:00 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. Zerbini Family Circus under the Big Top! Rain or Shine! 1st Come, 1st Served! No Reserved Seats! Seating Is Limited so line up early!

4:00 p.m. Live music begins on lawn opposite Town Hall; performances until fireworks. Picnic until fireworks: Ice cream vendor; Burgers, hotdogs, sodas at Maplewood BSA troop 5 concession. [Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in Maplewood parks.]

9:00 p.m. Fireworks — Come early! Times approximate. Parental discretion advised for small children and pets; consider viewing from a distance. Rain Date: July 5. (Circus and indoor events will be July 4, rain or shine).

Participating vendors:

MAPLEWOOD VILLAGE: Able Baker, Maplewood Stationery, No. 165, Scrivener’s, Strawberry Fields, Village Wine Shop, Words Bookstore

SPRINGFIELD AVENUE: Edo’s Quality Cakes, HLS Juice Bar & Grill, Park Wood Diner

Registration is required for Bikes Etc. Parade and Dashes & Relay Races. Forms are available at Memorial and Hilton Libraries, Town Hall, online at Board of Education school websites (“Digital Backpack Flyers”) and on Facebook "Maplewood 4th of July " and at www.maplewoodonline.com/cg/july4/

FOR MORE GO TO PATCH.COM

Mark Slade keller Williams 917.797.5059

Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.

As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (pending), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers

As your Maplewood/South Orange//Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris Cty thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.