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07/02/2023 10:15 AMThe fireworks are coming—even if they’re a little bit later this year. Guilford’s annual fireworks display is scheduled for Saturday, July 8. The party is in two phases, with a concert on the Town Green from 4 to 7 p.m., followed by a family-friendly party and concert at the fairgrounds on Lovers Lane.
According to Rick Maynard, director of Parks & Recreation, for the best fireworks experience, revelers should watch from ground zero at the fairgrounds. Other local viewing sites include the town marina, Jacobs Beach, and Chatfinch Park.
“I’m really excited about this show. It’s one of my favorite events of the year. It’s always rewarding to present this event for the town,” said Maynard.
The evening will kick off on the Green with an Independence Day celebration from 4 to
7 p.m., featuring live music by the Community Band, inflatable bounce tents for the kids, and a great picnic opportunity. The Community Band is a group of dozens of musicians of all ages led by Guilford High School’s musical department coordinator Mark Gahm, who pull off an incredible feat of musical logistics, according to Maynard.
“The band is just amazing. Mark Gahm does an amazing job. He has a hundred musicians from high school kids, college kids, and professional musicians from the area. They put on an hour-and-a-half evening of music with just four rehearsals. I’m always impressed by how they do that,” said Maynard. “I’m amazed every year how they pull it all off.”
After the party on the Green, the festivities will move down the street to the fairgrounds, where live music will begin at 7:15 p.m.
“The band will be Cover 2 Cover, and they are great too. They play covers from the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. We had them down at a Jacobs Beach concert last year, and people really loved them and said we needed to get them back,” said Maynard.
In addition to music, Maynard said the fairgrounds will feature inflatables for kids, food, and more.
“There will be inflatables there for the kids as well. There will be a lot to do while folks wait for the show. We’ll have food trucks and vendors as well,” said Maynard. “Bring the whole family; you get the moonbounce house, the food trucks, the band, and a super place to watch the show.”
Activities at the fairgrounds begin at 7 p.m., and the fireworks display will start at approximately 9:15 p.m.
According to Maynard, Guilford’s display has become renowned as one of the best fireworks shows on the shoreline. The intensity of the fairgrounds experience makes for a truly memorable evening, said Maynard.
“People watch from other places, from the Green, the train station, and most of the beaches, but from the fairgrounds, you really get a whole different experience,” Maynard explained. “You don’t see this type of display at many of the other places. We really get a lot of ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ during the show. The big booms are great, they are fantastic, but the lower-level action is what makes it special. Folks are only 400 feet away from the detonation site at the fairgrounds. Other shoreline towns launch from barges that are a quarter mile or half mile away, so our show really delivers a unique experience. You are really close to the action; you feel the pounding in your chest. You can taste the gunpowder smoke…you can feel it, taste it, touch it, and of course, see it. It truly is a multi-sensory event. This is a great family event. It is always a great show. People tell me every year, and I’m not saying this for me, but they tell me it’s the best fireworks show they have ever seen.”
Maynard praised the Agricultural Society as well as the town’s fire and police departments for their efforts in helping the show’s success every year.
“We have to acknowledge all of the hard work that goes into pulling our show off,” said Maynard. “The Agricultural Society is incredible and very generous in allowing the town to utilize their site. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do this. If we didn’t have the help of the fire department and the police department, we wouldn’t be able to do this either. The fire marshal is there at noon and stays all day long until eleven o’clock at night to ensure everything is safe. There’s usually four or five officers there to help; we really need the help of so many departments and people to pull this off. So, we are very grateful for that. It’s a real team effort.”
The concert on the Green is rain or shine unless thunder or lightning is an issue, and organizers remind residents that both events are family-oriented and are alcohol and substance-free gatherings. The rain date for the fireworks will be Sunday, July 9.
Organizers recommend getting to the event early for the best viewing spot. There is a modest parking fee for those attending the fairgrounds; all of the money collected goes directly to the Agricultural Society and assists in their efforts to maintain and upkeep the fairgrounds site.
For more information, call 203-453-8068.