Fireworks will again explode in brilliant colors over the Connecticut River in Springfield this Fourth of July.
In another step toward a post-pandemic return to normalcy, Independence Day will be celebrated with music, food, fireworks – and an anticipated large crowd – at an event called “Star Spangled Springfield.”
Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt likened the decision to hold the holiday celebration to 10 years ago when the show went on just a month after a tornado tore through a third of the city upsetting, lives and livelihoods.
"Now we can say no pandemic is stronger than our community," Matt said.
Matt, along with Mayor Domenic Sarno, other city officials, and event sponsors announced plans for the festivities at Riverfront Park Wednesday.
Sarno said he greenlighted the fireworks show after consulting with his public health and safety advisors.
Spirit of Springfield has produced a fireworks show on July 4th since 1991. It was canceled last year and the organization had announced this year’s show would not take place.
But when Gov. Charlie Baker last week declared that COVID restrictions would end on May 29th --- more than two months ahead of schedule --- Matt said she started planning for the event that normally takes months to pull together.
Her first phone call was to Fireworks by Grucci to secure the pyrotechnics.
"They laughed," Matt said. But she said they called back the next day and said they could put on the fireworks show.
Riverfront Park will be open all day for people to picnic. The program begins at 6 p.m. There will be face painters, balloon artists, musical performances, and food vendors. The fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.
There will be no restrictions on the size of the crowd allowed into the park and no social distancing. Public health guidance says people who are vaccinated against COVID-19 do not have to wear masks when in a crowd.
"It is going to be on the honor system," Matt said. She said masks would be available for people who want one.
Matt said there could be an even larger audience than in past years because other communities are not having fireworks shows.
" It is what we do: we produce events to bring people together and now we are able to do it," Matt said.
This will be just the second time the event is held in Riverfront Park since it reopened in 2019 following a $3.5 million restoration.
