Acton’s locally renowned fireworks display is back after a four year pandemic hiatus and scheduling issues! With music by the Cars tribute band, Best Friend’s Girl, food trucks, and a fine display of fireworks, Acton’s Independence Day celebrations have returned, better than ever. If you have some great photos from Thursday night’s concert and fireworks display at NARA Park,, share them with the Acton Exchange at info@actonexchange.org.
On a perfect summer evening, families and friends filled the NARA park amphitheater and soccer fields with chairs and blankets to share picnics or buy dinner from one of the many food trucks.
Picnickers were treated to some fine music by a Cars tribute band. Before the band played, Acton Recreation Director Melissa Settipani-Rufo and Acton Select Board Chair Fran Arsenault spoke briefly. Ms. Settipani-Rufo thanked everyone who helped put together the evening’s festivities, including all of the donors, the Acton Police, and many others. Ms Arsenault spoke about a number of rights that we, as Americans, enjoy today, and the importance of preserving our democracy.
“It is great to gather today as a community to celebrate the birth of our nation—it has been a while. Many folks attending today’s festivities may feel more strongly about it than others, especially in our little neck of the woods, because here is where it all started—The revolution against England for our Nation’s independence! Let us also remember that our Nation was built on the ideal that “all men are created equal.” Yet as the great abolitionist Frederick Douglass pointed out in his powerful speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July,” the promise of liberty wasn’t universal. I attended the Frederick Douglass speech-reading today at the Robbins House in Concord and it made me take pause and realize that our nation was definitely not perfect but that we can change. We are writing our history now!
“When I look around and see the beautiful faces that make up our community and the differences of our cultures, backgrounds and beliefs that is what has to be preserved and shared. That is what gives our Nation strength—it is the people! The people have always been this country’s strength and it will continue to be our strength. Diversity is not a threat, it’s the fuel that has driven our progress. We are living our history now!
“We have to be a country that truly lives up to its original declaration—that all men are created equal, and valuing our independence. We have to be vigilant, have open dialogue, and a commitment to the principles enshrined in our Declaration.
“Let us use this Fourth of July not just to celebrate the past, but to recommit ourselves to building a future where our independence and democracy is not under threat. I urge you to vote in November- Vote to protect reproductive health, vote to allow our children to have access to the books they want to read, vote to protect trans and gender diverse folks and vote to protect our democracy so we continue to have the independence we hold dear. Remember we are currently writing our history which means embracing our differences, sharing our stories and standing together to protect the precious gift of democracy and independence for our Nation.
“Happy Fourth!”
The Cars tribute band, Best Friend’s Girl, came up from Pennsylvania to play music from the Cars and other contemporary bands. The area in front of the stage was full of kids and adults bopping to the music.
During the intermission, Acton resident Steve Trimble was awarded the Acton Recreation Volunteer of the Year award for his tireless help in making so many Acton Rec concerts and other events run smoothly. Select Board Member David Martin accepted the award from Melissa Settipani-Rufo on behalf of Steve Trimble.
State Representative Simon Cataldo also spoke, praising recreation volunteer Steve Trimble, and also thanking the town staff and the police for making the fireworks event possible.
And finally, at 9:30, the fireworks began. As it turned out, some latecomers either could not get into NARA or chose to not fight the crowds, and watched from the Littleton side of Nagog pond.
Miriam Lezak is an associate editor for the Acton Exchange.
