Independence Day is a celebration of freedom. It is a day filled with barbecues, fireworks, and red white and blue. It is every American’s holiday, and we look forward to celebrating it with you.
We have music, children’s activities, and food vendors in Riverfront Park, and an amazing fireworks display from the Memorial Bridge. We invite you to bring your blankets and chairs, and your patriotic spirit and join us on July 4th for a Star Spangled Springfield!
Please have a safe and happy Independence Day!
-- Judy Matt
President
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Springfield Gets Star Spangled for July 4th
The Spirit of Springfield is excited to bring fireworks to the city’s skyline for a Star Spangled Springfield. Festivities in Riverfront Park, sponsored by MassMutual, start at 6pm with face painters, a balloon artist, and food vendors.
At 7pm, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, MassMutual Foundation President Dennis Duquette, Colonel David Halasi-Kun, Commander of the 104th Fighter Wing, and Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt will welcome everyone to the park. Vanessa Ford will perform the National Anthem, and Patrick Berry from WWLP-TV22’s Mass Appeal will serve as the master of ceremonies. Union Jack, a 60’s music British tribute band sponsored by TD Bank, will then take the stage and will get the audience dancing, singing, and clapping to the music.
At 9:30pm, all eyes will be on the sky. That is when Fireworks by Grucci will perform their pyrotechnic wizardry. The state-of-the-art performance will be launched from the Memorial Bridge. After hundreds of hours of choreographing, shell design and manufacturing, and set-up, the shells will burst with a rainbow of colors, smiley faces, and U-S-A.
Mix 93.1 FM will broadcast the music to enhance every burst, chrysanthemum, rocket, and the fountains that will cascade from the Memorial Bridge.
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Things to Know When You Go
When you join the Spirit of Springfield in Riverfront Park for Star Spangled Springfield, please be courteous, polite, and kind.
Food vendors in the park will be offering a variety of eats and treats. Hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage grinders, rice and beans with pork, cotton candy, popcorn, and chips will be available from Elegant Affairs. Batch Ice Cream will be scooping up some of their top flavors. Beer, wine, and soda will also be available.
The Springfield Water & Sewer Commission will be there dispensing Springfield water.
The Springfield Police Department will not be allowing pets, bicycles, skateboards, fireworks, sparklers, rollerblades, drones, smoking, and alcohol that is not sold on site.
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Public Safety Top Priority
Public safety is the top priority for a Star Spangled Springfield. More than 30 officials met earlier this month to discuss every detail from street closings, detours, and emergency medical services, to boater and fireworks safety.
Amtrak Police will be staffing the tracks that guests will cross to enter Riverfront Park. The Springfield Police Department will be monitoring activity in and around the park as well as managing traffic with support from the Springfield Department of Public Works. There will be a fire watch by the Springfield Fire Department from the moment the fireworks arrive until they leave. There will be police boats in the water to keep boaters at a safe distance. There will be officers on both sides of the Memorial Bridge from 11pm on July 3rd to 11pm on July 4th to keep anyone from crossing the bridge by car, foot, bicycle, or any other mode of transportation.
Safety for Star Spangled Springfield is a collaborative effort between departments on both sides of the Connecticut River, as well as the Massachusetts State and Environmental Police and Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.
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Peek at the Pyrotechnics
Fireworks by Grucci started work on Springfield’s July 4th fireworks months in advance. It began with the production of shells, selecting the music, and choreographing the program, which took many hours.
When the pyrotechnicians arrive in Springfield on July 1st, there will be three flatbed trailers from Joseph Freedman Company and Affordable Waste Solutions waiting for them to fill with firing tubes. A crew from the Springfield Department of Public Works will be on hand to assist. They will work all day on July 2nd. At 11pm on July 3rd, Charlie Arment Trucking and Affordable Waste Solutions will move the flatbed trailers to the Memorial Bridge where the wiring can be completed and the fireworks placed in the tubes. The team will also lay out boxes on the bridge for ground effects and install the MassMutual sign. It will take more than 250 man hours.
Dave Van Buskirk, the lead pyrotechnician from Fireworks by Grucci, will get his firing cues from a track broadcast to him on one channel and the music heard on Mix 93.1 FM on another channel.
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Congratulations Springfield Thunderbirds!
It has been 31 years since a Springfield hockey team competed for the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup. The Springfield Thunderbirds, who won the Eastern Division, fought hard to have their name engraved on the trophy. It was a long hard fight and Springfield could not be prouder of the players, coaches, and front office team.
The Spirit of Springfield and the Springfield Department of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management showed their support by bringing the Springfield Thunderbirds display from Bright Nights at Forest Park to Court Square. Lots of photos were taken with the display, and the Chicago Wolves were surely jealous not to have their logo in lights.
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Photos courtesy of Springfield Thunderbirds (Lucas Armstrong) |
Great Day for Golf
June 3rd was a great day for golf at Franconia Golf Course. More than 120 golfers took to the course for the Spirit of Springfield Golf Classic, sponsored by Charlie Arment Trucking. Players competed for the lowest score, a Bum Drum, closest to the pin, and the longest drive, and took shots with an air cannon.
Congratulations to Michael Ostrowski and the team from Arrha Credit Union on taking home the Joe Superneau Award for the lowest score. Tony Gleason and Maria Siciliano won longest drive. Mike Ostrowski got closest to the pin, and Janet Robinson and Gary DeCavage took home the Bum Drum to enjoy in their backyard.
The date for the 2023 Spirit of Springfield Golf Classic has been set for Friday, June 2nd. Mark your calendars.
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Springfield Gets Star Spangled for July 4th
Things to Know
When You Go
Public Safety Top Priority
Peek at the Pyrotechnics
Congratulations Springfield Thunderbirds!
Great Day for Golf
Guest Column
Commissioner B.J. Calvi
Springfield Fire Department
Bright Nights Season Pass
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Commissioner B. J. Calvi
Springfield Fire Department
The fourth of July is not only America’s Birthday, but also a holiday that transcends race, color or creed. America and Americans are at its core; it is a true celebration of the country and speaks to the greatness of the country and its people.
When I personally reflect back on the country, it brings me to what has made us exceptional over the years. The signers of the Declaration of Independence that started the country, the Minute Men, George Washington, and other notable leaders. Events such as the Victory at Yorktown, or the defeat and rebound after Pearl Harbor. These events make all Americans take pride in the nation and each other.
When the National Anthem is played at a sporting event or formal ceremony, it still makes me choke up with pride in the Country, the Flag, and the People that they stand for. On this July 4th while picnicking or watching fireworks, my hope that we can all pause and say “Happy Birthday America” you truly are a great place and no other place would I wish to be.
I would like to thank Judy Matt for asking me to write a few words on my thoughts on the July 4 holiday, and for everything, she and the Spirit of Springfield do for the City of Springfield.
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BRIGHT NIGHTS
SEASON PASS NOW AVAILABLE
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INCLUDES COUPON BOOKLET FULL OF SAVINGS |
2022
Monday, July 4th
6pm - 10pm
Riverfront Park
Sponsored by MassMutual
Friday, September 9th
10am
Riverfront Park
The President's Own U. S. Marine Band Concert
Sunday, October 16
3pm
Springfield Symphony Hall
Saturday, November 12
6:30pm to 11pm
MGM Springfield
Sponsored by American Medical Response
November 23rd to January 1st
Closed November 28th - 29th
Forest Park
Monday, November 28th Rain Date: November 29th
Forest Park
Sunday, December 11 2pm
Springfield Symphony Hall
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