Acton Gearing Up for Fourth of July Celebration

The summer season is just into full swing, meaning proud Americans are eyeing the upcoming Fourth of July.

And the Town of Acton plans to join in on the party.

Acton will host its July 4 celebration starting at 3 p.m. at NARA Park.

The activities include:

• Family Fun Time;
• Free concert featuring Beatlejuice at 6:30 p.m.;
• Fireworks at dusk.

"The fireworks can be viewed from all areas of the 40-plus acre NARA site," Event & Program Coordinator Maura Haberman said.

Complimentary shuttle buses will begin at 3 p.m. that will take guests to and from NARA Park from designated off-site parking located on Nagog Park Drive. Guests are encouraged to park and walk 10 minutes along the lighted Town Forest Trail located at the end of Nagog Park Drive to access park entrance. 

"This event is open to the general public and there is no admission fee to enter the park," Haberman said. 

Haberman added that all bags are subject to search. 

Entrance to the park will take place at two locations: the lower bus drop-off area on the beach end of NARA and at the NARA field area where the town forest trail ends. Multiple food vendors will be onsite with a variety of grilled food entrées, sandwiches, snack foods, ice cream and soft drinks. Alcohol is not permitted on park grounds.  

During Family Fun Time from 3-6:30 p.m. guests may purchase an all-you-can ride inflatable bracelet for only $5 that includes:

• Moonbounces
• 35-foot inflatable obstacle course;
• Slip n’ slide;
• Water slide;
• 65-foot jumbo slide.

A train ride will also be onsite for $3 a ride. 

NARA Beach will remain open for regular business hours with daily fee of $5 per Acton resident or no-resident rate of $7 for ages 2-11 and $10 for ages 12 & up. NARA picnic sites are not available for public use and no outside grills are permitted.

"This year also marks the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg. During the July 4 event, special activities will also include a visit by President Abraham Lincoln who will conduct a meet-and-greet during family fun time and at 6 p.m. at the Amphitheater, a reading of the Gettysburg Address will take place by President Lincoln," Haberman said. "In addition to the reading, an artillery cannon will be fired by the 5th Mass Battery between 4:30-5:00 p.m. and a colorguard will post the colors with a pair of musts about 6 p.m. to start the ceremony preceding the show at the amphitheater."

As part of this 150th celebration, an official renaming of North Acton Recreation Area Ceremony will take place. North Acton Recreation Area has been renamed the Nathaniel Allen Recreation Area, retaining the acronym NARA. Nathaniel Allen was an Acton soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery retrieving the colors from the Confederate Army during the Battle of Gettysburg.