Summit Hosts 66th Fourth of July Celebration Thursday

The City of Summit will kick off its 66th Annual Fourth of July Celebration on Thursday at 9:45 a.m. at Soldier’s Memorial Field.

This daylong celebration is a city tradition that will include a Flag Raising Ceremony at 9:45 a.m. with a colonial music group, followed by a Children’s Bicycle Parade, a Polka Dot Concert for Kids, lots of rides and amusements, craft and food vendors, The Kootz Rock and Roll Band and the Emergency Services Softball Game at 12 p.m., said Judith Josephs, Director of Community Programs in Summit.

Beginning at 6 p.m., Ashland Road will be closed to traffic to accommodate pedestrians going to Soldiers Memorial Field to see the “Cameos” perform and watch the grand fireworks display, provided by Garden State Fireworks, Josephs told Patch.

“As big as Summit is, it’s got a really small town feel. You feel like you’re in any town, USA,” Josephs said. “The morning time has a country feel to it and the evening is just huge. I’m fortunate to be up on the stage; I help host the event. When you look out and see the sea of people, it’s amazing that you work really hard but yet you see this sea of people who are all there for one reason – to have a good time. It’s really very nice, but it’s very hard work and very serious work. We drill; we practice. We have all sorts of incident action plans, and it’s serious stuff. But the payoff is huge.”

Josephs said what makes this celebration so special is that it is completely funded by resident and corporate donations.

"It’s all based on donations. One of the fun things is that when people sign up for our pool, golf and summer programs, we ask them if they’d like to make a donation towards the Fourth of July [celebration] because for all 66 years, it’s been all donation driven," Josephs said. "This year, we collected more than $7,000 at our window at our front desk. Whenever someone makes a donation, we ring a bell and everybody jumps up and waves a flag, and the people just love it and they laugh!" 

What also makes this celebration meaningful for residents is the individual or organization given the honor of pushing the giant "Fireworks Plunger" by the Fourth of July Celebration Committee. This year, that group is the congregation of Calvary Church in Summit, chosen for all the wonderful work they did during and after Superstorm Sandy, Josephs said.

“[Calvary Church] gave 7,000 meals to people over 15 days,” Josephs said. “They’re going to represent all the people who volunteered but in particular, the good work they did.”

Past recipients of this honor include the Summit Volunteer Rescue Squad on the occasion of their anniversary in 2012, Josephs said. In addition, two Summit Lifeguards who successfully resuscitated a young girl were honored in 2011. Dan Byers and Joe Candela pushed the plunger to start the show.

“The volunteers of Calvary Church are not only being recognized for their efforts but will represent all the volunteers who came to the aide of their fellow New Jersey residents during Hurricane Sandy,” according to a City of Summit Fourth of July Celebration press release. “They have graciously accepted the honor and plan on inviting all the congregation for the big count down.”

Another highlight of this celebration is the Children’s Bicycle Parade, which will begin around 10 a.m., Josephs said. About 500 children are expected to participate.

“It’s just the sweetest thing to see the kids on the bicycles. What is also fun is the generations of people in Summit who have been in this bicycle parade. Then they grow up and have children, and their children are in the bicycle parade. It just never stops,” Josephs told Patch. “They decorate their bikes and they parade around, and they get trophies in different categories. This year, Sweet Nothings is giving them candy baskets so that’s something new and cute. It’s a very sweet community oriented type of activity.”

New to the celebration this year is the Fireworks Food Court, which will feature fresh pizzas, frozen lemonade and other snacks and drinks beginning at 6 p.m.

The “Cameos,” regulars at this celebration, will begin playing at 7:45 p.m.

“They have been with us for a couple of years now,” Josephs said. “They’re a band that plays at night. A couple of them are local. They’re an oldies band. They do a set of fun Americano music and everybody dances. It’s just very sweet.”

Community members driving to this event can park on the parameter of the park, on surrounding residential streets or in the Summit Middle School parking lot, Josephs said.

Merck is the event’s major sponsor this year, Josephs said, and other sponsors include Celgene Corporation, Investors Bank, Overlook Medical Center and support from JCP&L.

“A very special thank you to the hundreds of local businesses who have also contributed to the event,” according to the event press release. “A very special thanks to all of the residents whose contributions help to fund the children’s day activities. While other communities around the country have discontinued their events, the residents and businesses in Summit would not let this 66-year-old tradition fail. It is a tribute to the sense of patriotism and tradition held closely by those who live, work and love Summit, NJ.” 
For information or up to the minute weather details, “like” Summit Community Programs on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/summitcommunityprograms or go to www.cityofsummit.org.