Sunday, July 4th marks the 245th anniversary of American Independence, "absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown”.  We missed the party last year… the parades, the fireworks, the picnics… all the traditional celebrations! Let’s mark the occasion in 2021 in the manner prescribed by John Adams... "the great anniversary festival will be celebrated with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."

Each and every community has their own unique celebrations on this day… we encourage you to check out the schedules on your town website.

Sunapee starts the holiday festivities at 6 pm on Friday, June 2nd with the always exciting & hilarious “Great Watermelon Race”. The course starts at the top of Maple St. and rolls on down to River Road. All the ‘rules of the race’ can be found on the Sunapee Recreation Department website. May the best, most ingenious watermelon win!

Right after the race, wander over to the Harbor where “Nicks Other Band” will be playing on the Ben Mere Bandstand from 6:30~8:30. The entertainment is FREE and everyone is welcome.

Saturday, July 3rd at noon, the streets will be lined with cheering onlookers as the Fireman’s PARADE will march up Central St. to Main St. and down into the Harbor. Everyone will be holding their breath & taking bets on whether or not the antique Buffalo Steam Roller can navigate the turn onto River Road and the trip back down Main St.

As we gather in the Harbor in anticipation of the spectacular ‘main event’, Kathy Lowe Bloch will entertain in her inimitable musical style from 5-7 pm under the tent at Flanders Stage.

The grand finale of the celebrate comes at dusk as FIREWORKS light up the sky to 'oohs & aahs’ of those on shore and on the water! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA! A grateful community thanks all who donated to make this a spectacular display!

Wait … there’s still more! On Sunday night, the Lake Sunapee Yacht Club FIREWORKS will once again light up the sky with the finale to the holiday celebration!

Rule of thumb: “there is no such thing as too many fireworks”!

Artists and Craftspeople show and sell their work under tents in beautiful Sunapee Harbor! Oil Paintings, Watercolor, Pottery, Stained Glass, Jewelry,

Beadwork, Metalwork and Photography!

Can't make it to BBB?

You can still bid on some of the auction items... don't miss out!

and more auction items to be added...

Just in time to welcome in the summer and return to gathering in person, the Center for the Arts announces their Annual Gala will take place July 8th at the New London Historical society. They invite people to enjoy a delightful evening of music and dancing to the sounds of The Bedford Big Band, plus the annual 10 X 10 art sale, all to raise money for CFA Arts Education Scholarships.

Every proper 4th of July Celebration culminates with Tchaikovsky's “1812 Overture” Enjoy the Boston Pops rendition, complete with cannons!

July 4th, 1862, is also the day when the story of “Alice in Wonderland” was first told to the child who inspired it. The occasion was a boat ride, perhaps the most noteworthy in the history of literature. Charles L. Dodgson, a mathematics scholar at Oxford, went rowing on the Thames in the company of Reverend Robinson Duckworth, a fellow Oxonian, and the three charming Liddel sisters … Lorina, 13, Alice, 10 and Edith, 8. The trip began at the Folly Bridge … a bit further upstream, they stopped on a shady bank for tea … and Dodgson … we know him better by his pseudonym, Lewis Carroll … began to spin the tale of Alice’s adventures underground. (Thanks to Jeff Jacoby for this literary note.)

There is more lightness for most of us now, but the fundamental message remains the same... let's all look out for each other, as we enjoy a summer season quite different than the summer of 2020. 

They can sign up HERE