Woodbridge to Host Huge July 4th Festivities, Fireworks

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — This community’s 2024 Independence Day celebration and fireworks display will be Wednesday, July 3 at Alvin P. Williams Memorial Park on the Sewaren waterfront, an annual event that draws thousands of spectators.

Mayor John E. McCormac says the town’s Fourth of July festivities will be the region’s largest, capped off with an incredible firework show, called “Bringing the Night to Life,” choreographed to patriotic music that starts at dusk or about 9:30 p.m.

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Meanwhile, the Woodbridge Police Department says its annual illegal fireworks crackdown is underway. Stepped-up patrols are now on the lookout for dangerous illegal fireworks ( details below) that officers will confiscate. Persons responsible for their sale or use will be issued a summons or arrested, police warned.

The town’s 2024 Independence Day festivities are dedicated to military personnel, veterans and first-responders. “Woodbridge is home to military personnel currently serving overseas; veterans who served and protected America’s freedom and democracy in conflicts around the world; and dedicated first-responders on the front line day-in-and-day-out,” McCormac said.

The “Bringing the Night to Life” fireworks display will feature more than 30,000 electronically-fired shells, and its music accompaniment will be simulcast on 95.1 WOLD radio. A local band, “SPYNE,” kicks-off the live music entertainment, followed by “AM Gold Yacht Rock Party” on stage before and after the fireworks display.

Alvin P. Williams Park will be closed on Wednesday to allow for the fireworks set-up.  Gates open to the public at 4 pm.  Lawn chairs, blankets and picnics are encouraged. No alcoholic beverages are allowed in the park.

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The rain date for this event is Friday, July 5. Check with the Recreation Department at (732) 602-6045 or at www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us for updates.

JULY 3 TRAFFIC ALERT
After the fireworks and music performances, cars leaving Alvin P. Williams Memorial Park must use Ferry Street (near Moby Dick’s). They will be directed to make left turns onto State Street. Traffic will not be allowed to make right turns onto West Avenue toward Woodbridge.

State Street traffic towards Perth Amboy will be prohibited from turning right onto Maurer Road, which separates the Chevron property. Traffic will be diverted down West Avenue–State Street onto Route 440, to Amboy Avenue and back into Woodbridge.

ILLEGAL FIREWORKS CRACKDOWN
Marked and unmarked Woodbridge police patrols will be combing neighborhoods and responding to 911 calls about the use of illegal fireworks for the next week or so. Illegal fireworks will be confiscated and violators face summons or arrest, carrying stiff penalties.

The state’s Explosives and Fireworks Act describes illegal fireworks as firecrackers, Roman candles, M80’s, cherry bombs, salutes, and ground-to-air fireworks.

Their sale, possession and use is a fourth-degree crime punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and/or up to 18 months in jail. Possession of more destructive devices is a third-degree crime with fines of up to $10,000 and incarceration of up to three to five years in jail.

Anyone who sets off illegal fireworks may be charged with a disorderly person’s offense that carries fines of up to $500.00 and/or a jail term of up to 30 days.

State law allows for some permissible sparkling devices and novelties sold only at registered retailers. These include hand-held sparklers, snakes and glowworms, smoke devices and trick noisemakers like party poppers, and snappers.

Woodbridge police urge residents to report illegal fireworks use by calling (732) 634-7700.

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