The town is set to launch the annual fireworks display from the Guilford Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 9. Town officials are encouraging folks to come down early and enjoy the day with family friendly activities and two separate concerts planned that will stretch from the town green to the fairgrounds.

Park & Recreation Director Rick Maynard said this year's event will have some special additions as well as all the traditional favorites.

"We are really excited about this one. This is open to everybody and the town band plays Mark Gahm, who is the high school band director, he does an amazing thing. They have about four rehearsals with something like 100 musicians and put on and hour and a half concert. That's pretty phenomenal if you think about it," said Maynard. "He has high school kids, college people, adults, some professional musicians, really from all levels and I am astounded that in such a short time they can put on such a great concert. So, we really encourage people to come down early for that."

Maynard said there will be a host of kids' activities at the event as well.

"While the concert is going on, we'll have a petting zoo for kids. We'll have inflatables, giants slides and other stuff for kids to do. That goes four to seven and then everyone can adjourn to the fairgrounds for the concert down there," Maynard said.

The fairgrounds concert will be hosted by Night Shift who are frequent entertainers for a host of shoreline events. They play a mix of seventies and other classics and will play right up until display time.

There will also be a number of food trucks and inflatable kids props down at the fairgrounds as well, said Maynard

The event is free for walk-ins and there is a $10 charge for cars to park, but all of those fees go to the Guilford Agricultural Society which owns the grounds. This event is a huge fund raiser for them and allows the Society to continue to host this and other events, that simply couldn't be held at any other location in town, according to Maynard.

"We have to give a huge amount of credit to the Agricultural Society and the fairgrounds. We could not duplicate this anywhere else or replicate it anywhere else in town. This is a unique spot," Maynard added. "And we need to thank everyone who puts in a really long day to pull this off. The Fire Department, the Fire Marshal — he is there all day long — ambulances and police. We have volunteers; our Park & Rec guys who have to bring a hundred music stand and 100 chairs from the high school and back again, and then get down to the fairgrounds to help there. So, it's really a community effort that residents should be proud of."

Maynard recommends arriving to the event early.

"We always encourage people to get there early, not only to enjoy the fun, but because the shows can sometimes start early if there are storms coming. It has happened before, so get there early. You'll be entertained while you're waiting and the show will be great this year, just like it always is," said Maynard. "It gets filled up early."

Maynard praised the fireworks company, Atlas PyroVision of New Hampshire, stating their show always awes the masses. So much so, that many residents think Guilford holds bragging rights to the best Fourth fireworks display on the shoreline.

"We've used them (Atlas) every year since 2000. They put out a tremendous show. People tell me that ours is the best show they see anywhere," said Maynard. "And this year is going to be a great one as well. I just love doing this. And we are really excited about it. We can't wait."

According to Maynard, Atlas's ability to put on a quality, safe show that allows watchers to get in close proximity to the actual launch zone is what makes Guilford's works so unique. Though there are great vantage points across Guilford from the marina, to Chaffinch Island to the Green, Maynard said up close at the fairgrounds is the best spot to maximize the ooohs and aaahs.

"It's really our location. We're blessed that we don't have to shoot from a barge out in the Sound like a lot of towns. Being able to get so close to the action is what makes it special," said Maynard. "It is a tremendous show and I don't want to take anything away from Atlas because they know what they're doing and are great at it, but it's really our location that makes it such a super fun event. You can feel it, you can hear the echoes bouncing back and you can smell it, so people really love it."

The Community Band Concert and children's activities/inflatables will begin at 4 p.m. on the Green and run until 7 p.m. This show is rain or shine as there will be available tents erected for the upcoming Guilford Hand Crafts Fair.

The concert with Night Shift at the fairgrounds starts at 7:15 p.m. and runs to approximately 9:15 p.m. when, after a rendition of the National Anthem, the fireworks will commence. Keep in mind that weather issues could cause the fireworks to begin earlier if conditions warrant. The rain date for the fireworks is the next night, Sunday, July 10 with all of the same details and accommodations.