Montclair Cancels July 4th Celebration For Second Year In A Row

MONTCLAIR, NJ — For the second year in a row, Montclair's annual 4th of July celebration has been canceled, town officials announced Monday.

Montclair was among the wave of New Jersey municipalities that put the kibosh on their annual Independence Day celebrations last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. It was the first time in more than 100 years that the town’s annual 4th of July celebration was cancelled.

And sadly, 2021 won’t be the year it gets its wings again, organizers said.

All planned public activities related to the holiday are part of the cancellation, including the parade, fireworks and the community picnic at Edgemont Memorial Park, officials said.

With restrictions on large public gatherings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic only recently lifted, and after consultation with the township manager, the Montclair Celebrates committee decided to cancel the events.

• See related article: Montclair Coronavirus Updates: How Many Vaccines, Cases?

According to organizers, planning for the July 4th celebrations typically begins six to eight months in advance. Fundraising, recruitment, contract negotiations and public safety arrangements are all coordinated by the volunteer committee.

“We are deeply disappointed that we must again cancel the July 4th celebrations, but given months of uncertainty regarding state guidelines on public gatherings, and our inability to plan with any certainty over the past six months, we made the difficult decision to call off the parade and picnic,” said Donato DiGeronimo, spokesperson for the Montclair Celebrates July 4th Committee.

“There's no one who wants the July 4th parade more than the committee,” DiGeronimo added. “We know how much Montclair would love to have a parade. There are brighter days ahead and we are determined to continue this beloved Montclair tradition celebrating Independence Day together in 2022.”

The volunteer committee is working on plans to recognize last year's grand marshal, Dan Gill, a teacher at Glenfield Middle School for over 50 years.

• See related article: Belleville Mayor Says July 4th Fireworks 'In Jeopardy' For 2021

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