Newark will celebrate America on Thursday with the city’s annual Independence Day festival and fireworks show.
Known officially as Liberty Day, the free event will be held, as usual, starting at 6 p.m. July 4, at the University of Delaware athletic complex.
“It’s a family event where you can come out, set up a blanket, check out the vendors and have an evening full of entertainment right there in front of you,” Parks and Recreation Director Paula Ennis said. “And to top it off, there’s a fireworks display. So you have an opportunity to do a lot of things in one area.”
The Jersey Pickers, a bluegrass band, will kick off the celebration with music at 6 p.m., followed by 7:45 p.m. performance by Mike Hines & the Look, a high-energy dance band.
There will also be children’s games, craft vendors and more than a dozen food trucks and food vendors set up throughout the event.
“We’ll have a good variety of food vendors there, and other vendors,” Ennis said. “It will be a good mix.”
The fireworks will begin around 9:30 p.m. Many attendees set up chairs and blankets on the lawn in front of Delaware Stadium for the optimal view of the fireworks, which will appear over the UD Field House, but anywhere in the lots surrounding the stadium will provide a good view.
Plenty of free parking is available in UD lots surrounding the stadium and Bob Carpenter Center, as well as at the STAR Campus and UD’s Woods Lot, which is accessible from East Chestnut Hill Road.
However, make sure not to pull over or park on the shoulders or median of East Chestnut Hill Road. Police will be blocking those areas, and tow trucks will be on call to remove any cars that violate the restrictions. Police began that enforcement several years ago, after years of motorists crowding the road and creating an unsafe situation.
Newark’s fireworks display, which has been a summer tradition here since the 1970s, draws spectators from around the tri-state area. Officials say the event itself usually attracts about 20,000 people, with another 20,000 watching from nearby streets, parking lots and other areas.
Attendees are asked to leave pets at home.
If rain forces the event to be postponed, it will be rescheduled for Friday, July 5, at the same times. For weather-related updates, call the Leisure Time Hotline at 302-366-7147.
The athletic complex will be ground zero for Liberty Day, but for those seeking a less crowded place to watch the fireworks, or just a different atmosphere, there are several options. Here are a few ideas:
Newark Reservoir: One of the highest spots in town, the reservoir off Old Paper Mill Road provides a unique fireworks viewing location. Parking is available at the base of the reservoir. For those not familiar with the area, keep in mind that reaching the top of the reservoir requires a fairly steep walk up a paved trail.
UD Green: The UD Green provides a quieter, picturesque place to watch the fireworks. Some of the lower bursts will be hidden by trees, but most of the show will be visible. The best viewing place is on the south side of Memorial Hall, in front of the Morris Library. There, you’ll find other like-minded fireworks fans set up with blankets and folding chairs. To complete the downtown Newark experience, head to Main Street after the show for ice cream or another treat. As an added bonus, parking will be free all day at the city’s downtown lots and meters.
Park and Ride Lot: Located across East Chestnut Hill Road from Delaware Stadium, DART’s Park and Ride lot always proves to be a popular place to view the fireworks. Expect a tailgate-style atmosphere as people arrive early and set up chairs or climb into truck beds to watch with family and friends.
Your backyard: If you happen to live in the neighborhoods surrounding the stadium, you have a good chance of seeing the fireworks from the comfort of your own backyard. Fire up the barbecue grill, pop open a cold drink and wait for the show to begin.
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