JULY 4th EVENTS PLANNED FOR SOUTH AMHERST COMMON, UMASS McGUIRK STADIUM AND BANGS CENTER

South Amherst

All Amherst residents are invited to attend the annual South Amherst Community July 4th celebration on the South Amherst common beginning at 9 AM.  The event is organized by neighbors and dates back over 100 years. This family-friendly neighborhood event features a children’s costume parade, games for all on Fiddler’s Green (South Amherst common), and free watermelon, lemonade, and ice cream. A $5-$10 donation/family is requested. 

Volunteers are needed for set-up, games, and clean-up. 

Contact southamherstjuly4th@gmail.com to volunteer.

The schedule of events:

9:15 AM    Parade registration

10:30 AM  Short program with prizes

10:45 AM  Games on the grass: peanut scramble, penny hunt,  foot races, sack races.

Prizes awarded for:

Bicycle decorations: best decorated bicycles, tricycles, scooters.

Floats: junior float, family float, neighborhood float.

Costumes: most patriotic, most unusual, most humorous, best story book character, most historic character, best superhero.

UMass McGuirk Stadium

The annual town Independence Day celebration will be held at UMass’ McGuirk Stadium from 5 PM-10:30 PM on July 4.  Due to construction on the field behind McGuirk Stadium, this year’s event will take place on the field to the south of the stadium off of University Drive.  

Events will include: 

• Hot air balloon rides
• Food carts
• Six Flags characters
• Carnival rides and games
• Beer garden
• Live music
• Fireworks

Activities start at 5 p.m. Fireworks will start at 9:30 p.m.  Atkins Farms presents the Blueberry Pie Eating Contest, a special July 4th tradition. On the main stage at 8:15 p.m., the Amherst Community Band will play until the Fireworks start. 

Rain date is Friday, July 5th.

Parking is available for a donation of $5.  People can avoid the hassle of parking and take special UMass Transit buses for the event. 

Important Travel Details:

Rocky Hill road will be closed, as will  both entrances to the Dallas Mall. This will create one point of entry along Stadium Drive. Parking will be available, as always, in lots 11, 22, and 33.

As a result of two serious car accidents last year, Hadley and Amherst police departments have decided to close route 116 from Route 9 to the UMass exit from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. 

JULY 5 at the Bangs Center

There will be a community reading of Frederick Douglass’ famous speech “What the Fourth of July means to the slave” on Friday, July 5 at 3 PM in room 101 of the Bangs Center.