Get ready to party, because Vermont’s largest fireworks display takes place at Burlington Waterfront the evening before the Fourth of July. Enjoy live music, local food and a fireworks display over Lake Champlain.
Events kick off July 3 at 5:30 p.m. with the fireworks shooting off at 9:30 p.m. Festivities are expected to continue into the night until 11 p.m.
Thousands of people are expected to visit Burlington for the Independence Day celebration. The city advises planning ahead to secure parking or other transportation, and to avoid long wait times when departing the event.
Below is all the information you need to plan your trip to the Waterfront and enjoy an evening of celebration.
Local food vendors
A variety of food vendors will be serving up food, drinks and cool treats throughout the six-hour celebration. Featured vendors include:
- Ahli Baba’s Kebab Shop.
- Ben & Jerry’s.
- Broccoli Bar.
- BTV Good Eats.
- Cha Cha Garna Tostada Kitchen.
- Church Street Cheesesteaks.
- East Coast Ice.
- Love, Peace and Grilled Cheese.
- Maharaja Spice.
- Mr. Rick’s Chuckwagon.
- North Country Specialty Foods.
- Only Cannoli.
- Pizza Bottega.
- The Scoop.
- The Vermont Maple Creemee Co.
Entertainment
Entertainment will begin at 5:30 p.m. with Sambatucada, a street bateria, playing Afro-Brazilian percussion. The all-volunteer group formed at the Jazz Festival in 1995 and has played at festivals, parades and celebrations across Vermont ever since. They’re identifiable in their purple shirts and rhythmic drums.
Entertainment will be taken over the rest of the evening by singer and songwriter Jesse Ray Smith.
Transportation
Parking by the Waterfront will be limited and result in a long wait to leave at the end of the evening. The city recommends shuttling downtown from the University of Vermont’s Gutterson Fieldhouse to 1 Main Street. The fare is $2 roundtrip and the bus runs continually from 3 to 11:15 p.m.
If you are interested in parking closer to downtown, options include:
- Perkins Pier Parking: $3/hour ($12 max) for cars and $12 for boat trailers.
- Waterfront Pease Parking Lot (bottom of College Street): Reserved for handicap/ADA parking and seasonal boaters on a first-come, first-served basis, until the lot is full.
- Oakledge Park Lots (Flynn Ave): $3/hour.
- North Beach Park Lots (off North Ave): $3/hour ($12 max).
- City Garages – Downtown (Lakeview/College streets) & Marketplace Garage: standard rates apply, see rates here.
- Skate Park Lot (at the end of Lake Street): Reserved for authorized personnel and vendor parking only.
The Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department is also warning that due to ongoing construction downtown, public routes of travel are subject to change. Updates can be found at btvjuly3.com.
Biking is also a welcome way to get downtown. There will be free valet bike parking by Local Motion at Lake and College streets.
Thinking of viewing the fireworks from the water? The U.S. Coast Guard will enact a full harbor closure at 8 p.m. when all boat traffic in the harbor will end. Boaters should plan to arrive at their destinations by 6 p.m. at the latest. The harbor reopens when the harbormaster gives the all clear. Tune into Marine VHF22 for updates.
Boat traffic from King Street Dock or Perkins Pier should exit to the south only. A No-Boat-Traffic-Zone has been extended to include the entire inner harbor. This safety zone is strictly enforced. The Perkins Pier and Waterfront boat ramps will be closed during this time.
Official event schedule:
5:30 p.m.: Sambatucada plays on the Waterfront boardwalk.
6:30 p.m.: Jesse Ray Smith plays first set on the Waterfront Main Stage.
8:15 p.m.: Jesse Ray Smith plays the second set on the Waterfront Main Stage.
9:30 p.m.: Fireworks begin.
10 p.m.: Jesse Ray Smith plays the final set.
Keep in mind that no personal fireworks or sparklers should be brought into Waterfront Park, along with no glass. Make sure to leave your pets at home as well to ensure their safety as there will be heavy traffic and loud noise.
Sydney P. Hakes is the Burlington city reporter. Contact her at [email protected].
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