Pull out a blanket, load the kids in the car and head to the high school because the Fourth of July festivities kick off tonight, Thursday, July 3.
The fireworks will be at Andover High School, 80 Shawsheen Road. Although safety officials were concerned originally that the explosives might accidentally ruin the school's new artificial turf football field, state and local officials have come up with a way to keep the fireworks at the high school while protecting the field.
The fireworks will be set off from the varsity baseball field, between third base and home plate, near Shawsheen Road.
Because of the new launch location, fireworks fundraiser Jerry Silverman said most of hill at the high school will be off-limits and some parking will be lost.
Silverman wouldn't say how much money a fireworks committee has raised for this year's display, which he said will be bigger then last year. Town Meeting approved $8,000 for fireworks, but private contributions always add to that total.
"We're not finished yet," Silverman said, "but I guarantee that there will be enough money to cover the fireworks and have a little left over for next year."
He added that anyone who wants to write a check can make it out to "Town of Andover" with "fireworks" in the memo line.
A new addition to the fireworks evening this year will be the music of the 30-piece Middlesex Concert Band. Sponsored by the fireworks committee, the band will be playing from 7:30 until the lighting of the first fireworks. While the band usually plays during the pancake breakfast in the Park downtown on July 4, this is the first year the band will play before the fireworks display. The band still will play patriotic music in the Park from 10:30 to noon the next morning.
July 4 morning
Andover's annual Fourth of July celebration will commence at 8 a.m. on Friday, July 4, with a pancake breakfast. Pancakes, sausage, coffee and juice will be made and served by past and present town officials until 11 a.m. The breakfast, games and activities will be in the Park at the corner of Chestnut and Bartlet streets.
Also starting at 8 a.m. will be the Blair Bettencourt Jazz Band. The jazz band will play in the Park until 9:30 a.m. when it will lead the Horribles Parade.
People interested in being in the parade should line up at 9 a.m. The parade will start at 9:30 a.m. on Bartlet Street then, move down Punchard Avenue, Main Street, Park Street and Whittier Street before finishing back in the Park.
Children's activities and games will be available in the Park from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Activities will include a moon bounce and face painting.
A new event this Independence Day will be hot air balloon rides in the Re/Max balloon on Friday from 8 to 10 a.m. behind Doherty Middle School, which is next to the Park.
Rides will be $5 for both adults and children.
The balloon was recently at Smolak Farm Strawberry Festival in North Andover. Re/Max helped raise money for the farm's charity, Smolak Fund, which benefits arts and education in North Andover.
Sherry Smith, office manager of Re/Max Partners, approached the Department of Community Services in Andover and volunteered one of the real estate company's famous hot air balloons to use at the celebration.
"We wanted to give back," she said.
On Friday, Smith and other agents will set up and staff the ropes of the balloon.
The basket of the balloon holds no more then four people. The balloon will go 50 feet straight up and then come back down. Sarah estimates each "tethered ride" will be five to 10 minutes.
