4th of July in Edgartown
The Hottest Spot for the 4th of July:
Edgartown!
Before we dig into the afternoon and evening in Edgartown where the fireworks will be (get it? hottest spot!), I want to share a few other lovely events happening earlier:
Murdick’s “Run the Chop” Race (Vineyard Haven) — 4 miles on the 4th around West Chop, starting and ending at St. Augustine Church. Details here!
Children’s 4th of July Parade at MVCMA (Oak Bluffs) — “Parade starts at 10 am and flows down Clinton Ave. and around Trinity Circle, ending at the MVCMA Cottage Museum.” Full details here!
14th Annual Ringing of the Bells (Vineyard Haven) — At 2pm, the bells on Main Street will ring for 2 minutes straight.
“Jaws” Movie Screening at the Strand (Oak Bluffs) — At 12pm. For their most current movie info, check out the Instagram account for the Strand here.
Parade (Aquinnah) — (Sorry that I’m unsure of the exact time! It’s been sometime mid-morning in years past!) Start at the corner of Moshup Trail & State Road, the parade then makes its way to the Aquinnah Circle.
For July 4th, these are some of the earlier options before the fireworks and parade in Edgartown later in the day! Find the info and details below for parking, timing, and location details in Edgartown…
BY: Éva@ExploreMVY
PUBLISHED: July 1, 2024
LAST UPDATE: July 4, 2024
4th of July Overview
4th of July Details
Getting There:
PARKING FOR THE PARADE @5pm: Expect to be towed if your car is on the parade route (see below) after 3pm! You’ll typically find ample parking at the Park ‘n Ride near Edgartown Pizza (at the Triangle) if you’re parked there by around 3-3:30pm. After that? Good luck!
PARKING FOR THE FIREWORKS @9pm: Because the towing signs are lifted from the parade festivities by 7pm, you may get lucky and find parking in the 6:30-7:30pm window of time either at the Park ‘n Ride or even on or near Main Street.
BUS: You can take the bus into Edgartown via #1 or #13 or utilize the buses from Katama and nearby — but you’ll want to note the special details from the VTA due to road closures at certain times.
BIKE: When the traffic is crazy after the parade and fireworks, and everyone is leaving at the same time, it feels like quite the hack to be on a bike!
On the Agenda:
Starting 12pm: Lobster Rolls at St. Elizabeth’s Church!
5pm: The Parade!
Details on the route >>
The Old Whaling Church bell will ring 5 times in a row, then we’ll head out from the Edgartown School to begin!
The beginning is just outside the Edgartown School on Edgartown-WT Rd, where they’ll head toward downtown. A huge crowd will be waiting on both sides of the street at the start.
The parade will then pass by the Edgartown Library on the right, Cannonball Park on the left, then...
Time to take a right onto Upper Main St, pass the gas station, Atria, and the Ashley Inn on our left, then pass Green Ave and take a left onto Peases Point Way (N) followed by the first right onto Peases Point Way.
The parade keeps on weaving through the homes downtown with slightly smaller crowds for this portion until it’s time to take a right onto Morse St, a left onto Fuller St, a right onto Thayer St, then a right at the end onto Starbuck Neck which will eventually lead the parade to North Water St (huge crowds pick back up here)
They’ll keep heading down North Water St until they make it back to finish up and end at Upper Main St.
It will likely finish up by around 6:30, with perfect timing for music at the Old Whaling Church!
6:30pm: American Tribute Concert at the Old Whaling Church! (FREE entry, donations appreciated) Dan Clark and his wife Mary Colarusso
9pm: Fireworks on the harbor at dusk!