Ridgewood's Fourth of July: "Celebrate the Constitution"

[Editor's note: This article was originally published June 28.]

The Ridgewood Fourth of July celebration is drawing near, bringing to mind fond memories of parades, barbeques, and of course, fireworks.

“It’s a really big event but it still has that small town feel,” said parade Chair Ann Marie Snyder. “I grew up in Ridgewood and it’s been one of my favorite days since 1971. I volunteer so that all the children will have the same experience that I had.”

This year’s theme is “Celebrate the Constitution” and to help out, 5th District Republican Congressman Scott Garrett has donated 500 copies of the historic document to be given to every fifth grader in the village.

“The theme is something the elementary schools can really get involved with,” said President of the Celebration Committee Margie Downs. “They can talk about it in the classroom and make their floats constitution-themed.” 

Garrett will be present at the opening flag raising ceremony in Wilsey Square at 9:00 a.m. to speak and hand out additional copies of the historic document.

The parade will begin at 10:00 a.m., rain or shine, traveling from Godwin Ave., through town, along Maple Ave. and eventually ending in the Graydon parking lot.

There will be over a hundred units in the procession, including the Melrose Blackhawk band, participants in the Ridgewood parade since the seventies. The ever-popular fire trucks will be there, sirens screaming, as will the Bergen County Sheriff’s Dept. on their horses, clowns, antique cars, Revolutionary War re-enactors, the RHS marching band, and much more.

For the full list of participants, see the Fourth of July website.

The traditional fireworks display will take place in Veterans Field, gates opening at 6:30 p.m.  

Music will include Patriot Bass Ensemble and the Manhattan Dolls, a big band singing trio. The Illumination twirlers will perform, as will Miss Patti’s School of Dance, and the always highly-anticipated Fallin’ Angels Sky Divers will parachute onto the field. After 9:00 p.m., the fireworks display will begin.

For the first time in an estimated twenty years, firework ticket prices have been raised from what was previously $5 per advance ticket ($10 at the gate) to this year’s $8 advance ticket ($10 at the gate for ages 6-12, $15 for ages 13 and up).

“It was a decision that the committee did reluctantly in the face of rising costs," the Fourth of July Committee said in a press release.

“The price of everything has gone up,” said Downs in an interview. “We had a spectacular fireworks display last year for the 100th Anniversary, and people want another show, so we spent a little more on that this year.”

Thirty-four years ago, the Village put together the parade and funded it, until Gerry DeSimone moved to town and took on the responsibilty. "I thought it was terrible that we were paying for the parade with tax money when it could be done by volunteers," said DeSimone.

Today, the parade is organized completely by volunteers, and paid for by ticket sales and donations. The Village is compensated for the additional police and fire security by the celebration committee.

Downs stated that the fireworks and the bands for the parade are the most expensive aspects of the celebration (the band budget alone is $25,000).

Downs does not anticipate that the high cost will steer potential buyers away. “We’ll do fine with ticket sales, they’re starting to pick up now as people cement their plans,” she said.

"The most imporant thing people can do to support the parade is buy tickets for the fireworks," said DeSimone.

Download the movie