Published in the July 5, 2018 edition

WAKEFIELD — Yesterday the town had itself a party, and thousands joined in.

From infants to great grandparents, people flocked to the Common and lined the annual Fourth of July parade route along North Avenue, Church Street, Common Street and Main Street as Wakefield celebrated the 242nd Independence Day.

The tremendous efforts of the West Side Social Club’s 4th of July Committee and the Wakefield Independence Day Committee to make sure the town had a great time paid off in spades, capped by the West Side-sponsored half hour long fireworks spectacular above Lake Quannapowitt.

While temperatures soared, the shade on the Veterans Memorial Common provided some relief for organizers and parents as the West Side’s children’s pageant parades and judged contests took place.

 Following various races organized also organized by the West Side, the Common quieted down for awhile, with some still hanging around to buy something to eat or drink, or to donate to the cause of putting on July Fourth activities the town has grown accustomed to.

A FANTASTIC AERIAL DISPLAY proved a fitting end to the town’s 2018 Fourth of July Festivities. (Photos Courtesy of C. Mac Images/Advanced Imaging ©2018)

The July 4th events got underway early, with the annual Fishing Derby.

For the West Side’s kids pageantry parades, the club’s 4th of July Committee chose as its theme: “Working together for a better world.” The theme was a guideline for the pet, tricycle, bicycle, scooter, cart, and doll carriage parades.

A spokesperson for the West Side’s 4th of July Committee said of the kids events, “This part of the celebration has always been a West Side Social Club favorite. The children’s creativity is simply amazing” and the morning was filled with fun.

The Wakefield Independence Day Committee’s Fourth of July Parade stepped off at 4:30 p.m. from Quannapowitt Parkway.

Leading the way was the Fire Department, followed by the police and Grand Marshal Dr. Kimberly Smith, the now-retired superintendent of Wakefield’s schools.

The bands and floats impressed, as always, and the marchers’ stamina was certainly on display as they wound their way down North Avenue to Church Street to Common Street to Main Street in a mid-summer’s heat. 

In all, the parade lasted about an hour and 45 minutes. 

In the evening, the “Concert on the Common” — put on by the West Side — featured the very talented Buckley Brothers Band, performing an array of all time great songs for everyone to enjoy before the grand finale.

“Last year, the Buckley Brothers Band was so well received we decided to give it a go again. We are confident they will entertain the townspeople with their performance,” said the West Side’s 4th of July Committee spokesperson.

As usual, traditional patriotic tunes entertained the crowed just before the start of the fireworks. Dan Clark, the Singing State Trooper, performed for the crowd.

“Ending the musical segment with patriotic songs brings the true meaning to the Fourth of July,” added the spokesperson. 

As the finale, the spectacular fireworks display began right around 9:30 p.m. and lasted until just before 10. They were in honor of the late community activist Phyllis Hull.

Atlas Pyrotechnic took care of the display, and the nighttime crowd witnessed the sky light up with breathtaking rockets as the finale of the town’s Fourth of July celebration.