Belleville Mayor Says July 4th Fireworks ‘In Jeopardy’ For 2021

BELLEVILLE, NJ — It “doesn’t look good” for Belleville’s annual 4th of July fireworks celebration in 2021. But there’s a summer concert series coming that may soften the blow, the town’s mayor says.

During the town council’s meeting earlier this week, Mayor Michael Melham offered an update about the possibility of a fireworks show in Belleville this year.

“It does not look good for 4th of July,” Melham cautioned.

“They’ll definitely return – we’ll definitely see to it that they return for next year – but I do think this year’s [fireworks] are in jeopardy,” the mayor said.

Even though face mask requirements and gathering limits are changing in New Jersey, putting that many people together at the Belleville Municipal Stadium, where the show is usually done, is going to be “difficult,” Melham said.

There’s also construction taking place at the stadium that is creating a lack of parking, which adds to the uncertainty, he said.

“This isn’t about a cost saving measure,” Melham said.

While it doesn’t look good for fireworks this year, there are plans in the works for a summer concert series with social distancing that will run from July 8 to Aug. 26, Melham added. Entertainment will include “The B Street Band,” a tribute to Bruce Springsteen, and “New Power Soul,” who played at the town’s food truck festival two years ago.

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