Bristol to celebrate the Fourth of July with patriotic traditions
BRISTOL, R.I. (WLNE) — The longest running Fourth of July celebration of its kind in the country will return later this month.
The town of Bristol announced its annual schedule of patriotic celebrations starting with a Flag Day ceremony and ending with the famous Fourth of July parade.
A Flag Day ceremony at 6 p.m. on June 14 at the town common will kick off the festivities.
Bristol’s summer concert series will start with the 88th Army Band on Tuesday, June 20 at 7 p.m. Concerts will be held every night at Independence Park through July 2.
A file photo of the Bristol Fourth of July parade. (WLNE)
On nights where two bands are set to play, the show will begin a half hour earlier.
The Rockwell Amusements Carnival will be in town from June 23 to July 3 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and July 4 from noon to 6 p.m.
The celebration is held annually at the town common and features rides, entertainment, and classic carnival foods like cotton candy.
Families can buy unlimited ride wristbands in advance. They are absolutely non-refundable.
The Bristol Train of Artillery fires off weapons at the annual Fourth of July parade. (WLNE file image)
People can look to the skies the night of July 3 for the annual fireworks display over the Bristol Harbor. The display is slated to begin at 9:30 p.m.
Bristol’s downtown is lined with restaurants and businesses for families looking for food and entertainment before the show.
The Fourth of July parade will step off at 10:30 a.m. at the corner of Chestnut and Hope streets. It will march on to High Street between State and Bradford streets.
Hope Street (Route 114) including Poppasquash Road will be closed off starting at 8 a.m.
Chestnut and Naomi streets and Sherry Avenue will be closed to traffic starting at 7 a.m. A parking ban in the area will go into effect the night before.
