July 3-4 — BRANDON — The Town of Brandon knows how to celebrate! For the Independence Day weekend, all activities and events are free.
The fun begins Friday at 6 p.m. in Central Park when the band Distant Thunder begins heating up the night with classic rock, blues and country music. Then, at 7 p.m., the DJ begins, and stays until the last dancer drops. There will be hamburgers, hot dogs, cotton candy and popcorn to fortify the dancing frenzy.
Other pre-parade events include: Karaoke in the gazebo in Central Park from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Family Fun will be happening behind the Brandon Inn from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. with a bounce house, petting zoo, smoothie bike, games, and Steve Gratto on stilts, tying balloon animals to the delight of kids and adults alike, and juggling and unicycle at 11:15 a.m. A pie-eating contest goes on behind the Inn at 12 p.m. A silent auction will be going on at Fellowship Hall next to the Congregational Church from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-3 p.m.
At 1 p.m. the signature event of the celebration, the parade starts at the intersection of Park, High and Marble Streets. The parade marches down beautiful Park Street, through downtown, past our historic Town Hall, through Conant Square, and ends at Brandon Lumber (on Route 7, about a half-mile north of the Brandon Inn). There’ll be floats, bands, fire engines, antique tractors, antique cars and much more!
The events continue as the Keating Five takes over the gazebo in Central Park, immediately following the parade. This extraordinary group of local musicians puts together an eclectic mix of rock, reggae, ska, funk, blues—and then some—so be sure to stick around to shake your booty.
No fourth of July is complete without the yearly ball race, over the falls at Green Park, just north of Central Park, at 3 p.m.
The fun continues in Park Village (the old Brandon Training School just north of town) at 5 p.m. with more food, fun, and float winner announcements. The DJ will be there from 5:30 p.m. to dusk, prior to the count-down to the Fireworks at dusk.
Donations are appreciated. For more info, visit brandon.org.
