Celebrating The Fourth of July

by Lani Duke

A New England Fourth of July celebration has a special place in American values, a reminder that many of the traditions we cherish grew out of this frontier. Residents and townspeople gather for a variety of special events: picnics, speeches, parades, and fireworks. Let's look around our area and see how the various communities in the Rutland area plan to celebrate.

The Billings Farm & Museum offers a full day of old-fashioned fun, beginning at 10:00 a.m. and running until 5:00 p.m. A patriotic reading at 10:30 precedes the debate 'Will there come a time when the earth's population will be limited by the earth's capacity of food production?" There is a public reading of the Declaration of Independence at noon, followed by a 12:30 spelling bee (of 19th century words). A second debate ensues at 1:30: "Should men and women receive equal wages for the same work?"

Other activities include the opportunity to make your own 43-star flag (the 1890 version), Uncle Sam bookmarks, presidential silhouettes, and firework stencils. There are traditional games too, including hopping along in the sack races and tossing raw eggs, or you ride a wagon around the farm and turn the crank to make strawberry ice cream as you listen to fiddle, banjo, and hammered dulcimer played by David Carpenter and Tom Mackenzie.

In addition to taking parting the 4th of July activities, admission to Billings Farm includes visit the operating dairy farm, farm life exhibits, and the restored and furnished 1890 farm house.

Killington also offers a full day of activities, beginning with the annual parade, assembling at the Events Hall (the old Grange Hall) around 9:00 a.m., in preparation for the 10:00 march down River Road. The Johnson Recreation Pool area opens with free swimming for all at 11:00, and the Fireman's BBQ begins serving at 11:30, continuing to serve throughout the day. There's a silent auction near the picnic area of the recreation center beginning at noon (and ending at 3:00), and children's field games starting at 1:30. Fireman games on the soccer field begin at 2:00 and there's a belly flop contest at the pool at 3:30. Music starting at 7:00, by an as-yet-to-be-named group or groups, precedes the fireworks show at 9:30. Bring your picnic blanket and join the fun.

Poultney's July 4th celebration and parade will be held on Friday, July 4th with activities sponsored throughout the day by many businesses and organizations. This year's theme is "Our American Heritage".

Poultney Area Chamber of Commerce will provide prizes for float entries for the July 4th parade. Those who wish to have their entry judged should stop by the Chamber office in the Stonebridge building and complete the community Parade Committee's entry form. All forms need to be returned to the Parade Committee by June 25th. [Submission information is on the form.]

Kathy Hutson of the Parade Committee, said that the parade event begins at 10 a.m. at the East Poultney Green and proceeds westerly on East Main to Main to College streets ending at the elementary school grounds.

On July 4th, all parade entries need to be at the line-up site by 8:30 a.m. as this year, judging of the entries for the Chamber-sponsored prizes will be completed prior to the kick-off of the parade. Winner will be announced early in the day.

For more information about Poultney Chamber of Commerce or Poultney's July 4th activities, contact Nina at the Poultney Chamber of Commerce office, 802-287-2010 (ecko2@together.net), or Kathy Hutson at the Poultney Food Shelf office, 802-287-9279 (Poultney4th@aol.com), both offices located within the Stonebridge building at the corner of Main and Beaman Streets in Poultney Village.

Rutland celebrates the 4th with Summer Smash 2008 at the Vermont State Fairgrounds. And smash it is as entrants in the Stoney Roberts Demolition Derby circle in front of the grandstand, banging into each other's vehicles until only one continues to run. As dark falls, the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce Fireworks Extravaganza begins. As manmade stars cascade from the sky, make yourself a mental note to say thank you to sponsors Casella Waste Systems, Central Vermont Public Service Corp., Chittenden Bank, Crossroads of Vermont Partnership, FairPoint Communications, Hannaford Brothers Superstore, Price Chopper Supermarkets, Rutland Herald, Ryan, Smith & Carbine, TD Banknorth, Vermont Country Store, and Wal*Mart.

The fairgrounds opens its gates at 3:00 p.m., with food concessions and vendors firing up their activities at 4:00. The demolition derby begins at 6:30 while the fireworks light up at 9:45. For more information, call (802) 773-2747 or access it online at www.rutlandvermont.com.

The President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site in Plymouth begins its celebration at noon on the 4th with a walk to the cemetery, where the Vermont National Guard will place a wreath sent from the White House on Coolidge's grave. America's 30th president, Coolidge was born on July 4, 1872. After the ceremony, folks can eat their own picnic on the grounds or enjoy Wilder House restaurant's barbecued chicken.

Abraham Lincoln, in the person of Steve Wood, speaks at the Union Christian Church at 2:00 p.m. Wood's first-person historical interpretation, "A Visit with Abraham Lincoln," includes anecdotes from Lincoln's visit to New Hampshire, stories of his early life, campaign debates with Stephen Douglas, and the Civil
War that followed his election to the Presidency. Following a short discussion of the events leading up to Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, Wood closes with a reading of the Gettysburg Address.

Following that is a performance by the new Triada Music Festival, comprising members of the Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, and DaCapo Chamber Players. All activities at the Coolidge Historic Site are free and open to the public; donations are encouraged. For more information, call (802) 672-3389.

All the 4th of July fun is not only on dry land, at least not in Castleton. You start off by picking up your American flag at the docks near Route 4A n the eat side of the channel, courtesy of Coldwell-Banker, Watson Realty, about 1:15 to 2:00 p.m. Wave your flag as the annual Bob Franzoni boat parade motors from the mouth of the channel, up the east lake side, around the lake, and back down the west side.

Century 21-Bird Real Etate, Woodard Marine and the Trak In restaurant have donated prizes that are awarded for the boats that are Best Decorated, Most Patriotic, and Most Humorous. Enjoy the water.

Once the boats dock, the seven-man Onion River Jazz Band strikes up with its traditional Dixieland style. Listen to tunes written and performed by Louis Armstrong, Jely Roll Morton, Bix Biederbecke, and the like. The Crystal Beach show is the only "off-premises" performance in the Castleton Concerts on the Green series. The rain date for the concert is the following evening, same time and place.

Brandon gives Independence Day enthusiasts a second chance, celebrating its holiday festivities on Saturday, July 5. The Vermont Chamber of Commerce rates the celebration one of summer's Top Ten events, with the park opening at 9:00 for games, activities, music, and food. The parade begins at 1:00 a.m.; organizers expect outstanding floats this year, perhaps inspired by multiple new cash awards. Under the theme "Down on the Farm for Independence Day," expect to see the Best 4-H Float, Best Scout Float, Best Neighborhood Float, Best Old Tractor, Best Non-Profit Float, and more. The afternoon includes a fiddler's contest in a park, followed by fireworks at dusk.

The smell of fired powder continues in Hubbardton for yet another day. On Saturday and Sunday, the Hubbardton Battlefield State Historic Site hosts the 231st anniversary of the only Revolutionary War battle fought within the boundaries of Vermont. Activities include guided tours of the site, an opportunity to try colonial games, performance by a fife and drum corps, shopping in Sutler's Rows, tactical military demonstrations, drilling lessons, courts martial, a colonial schoolroom, and outdoor food.

This weekend offers an opportunity to celebrate American independence for three days in a row. Have great fun!

Fourteenth Annual Solarfest

July 11-13

SolarFest’s annual festival powered entirely by renewable energy takes place July 11, 12 and 13th, 2008.  Over sixty-four solar and wind energy, green building and sustainable living workshops are presented under tent cover, with over 100 exhibitors, craft vendors, fantastic food and three packed days of high-quality entertainment on two solar-powered stages. 

Keynote speakers are Frances Moore Lappé and William Rivers Pitt. Ms. Lappé is the author of 16 books, including the seminal Diet For a Small Planet. Mr. Pitt is a noted author and political commentator.

Singer Dar Williams returns to the SolarFest stage for the fifth time in fourteen years.  An energetic and extremely witty performer as well as an ardent supporter of renewable energy, Ms. Williams donates her appearance in order to reach out to people about the importance of living more sustainably.

SolarFest attendees are used to an eclectic mix of performers, and this year does not disappoint.  Also on the bill are the ten-piece funk band New Groove Orchestra, award-winning Emma’s Revolution, the genre-bending Born Again Floozies, fast-rising Barefoot Truth, the Persian-flavored rock of Haale, Bonepony’s acoustic stomp rock, and Vermont’s own Anais Mitchell and Gregory Douglass, to name a few. Favorite traditions continue with the Saturday night contra dance, Frank Asch’s Theater-in-the-Woods, and the SolarFest singer-songwriter contest.

SolarFest’s  volunteer organizers are looking forward to record attendance.   With hourly workshops in five different tents - 64 in total - covering a multitude of topics relating to sustainable living, local economy, agriculture, green building, and renewable power for homes, businesses and cars, there is something for everyone.  New this year is a workshop tent devoted to youth, called Solar Generation, with topics aimed at early teenagers to people in their early twenties.

Renowned for its family-friendly atmosphere and affordability (children 16 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult), SolarFest’s mission is to educate about renewable energy and a sustainable future through the arts.  The festival is hosted by Forget-Me-Not Farm, which is itself run on solar power and CVPS’ Cowpower.

Ticket information, workshop and performer descriptions and many other details can be found at the website: www.solarfest.org.