Fourth Of July Fireworks At Beacon’s Memorial Park Thursday July 4th - Free Palestine

The City of Beacon is hosting the community’s fireworks on Thursday, July 4th at dark in Memorial Park. There may be vendor trucks and things to do. You’ll have to show up to find out.

There will be the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence by Dennis Pavlock and Committee (Anne Thomas, Clara Lou Gould (former Mayor of Beacon) and Emily Murnane) at 11am at Town Hall 1 Municipal Plaza.

In protest of the United State’s ongoing participation of the genocide of Palestinians and people in Middle Eastern countries, by way of the funding of Israel with Made In The USA weapons that are destroying families and shredding children, A Little Beacon Blog will not attend either event. We will not be sitting under those falling ashes.

No Fireworks Display In Beacon This July 4th, 2021

Several readers have contacted A Little Beacon Blog to ask if there are fireworks in Beacon, and we got a tip froma citizen reporter who reached out to the Mayor’s Assistant, Collin Milone, that there will be no fireworks this year in Beacon at Memorial Park, as there have been in years past.

Last year during the high cases of COVID-19 during the pandemic when New York was under a State of Emergency, the fireworks were “postponed,” then City Administrator Anthony Ruggiaro said. The hope was to light them later in the summer or for the Spirit of Beacon Day. Both of which did not happen.

New York’s State of Emergency has been lifted, as have several COVID-19 restrictions, but requirements for large scale gatherings remain for event venues. It is unknown at this time if this is the reason for no fireworks in Beacon. As New York State hit the 70% first-shot vaccinated milestone, Governor Cuomo scheduled fireworks at locations around the state.

See Hudson Valley Magazine’s roundup of where to watch fireworks, including Fishkill, Cornwall, and Dutchess Stadium.

A Brief Historical Refresh on Beacon’s Fireworks

The City of Beacon does not fund or organize the city’s fireworks, but they do need to approve the use of Memorial Park. Traditionally, the firework show was undertaken by volunteers with Kiwanis Club of Beacon, who disbanded in 2018, and some organizing from I Am Beacon. When the Kiwanis Club disbanded, there was no formal passing down of the organizing of the fireworks. When this was realized, the people of Beacon began to chatter, and LT Sherpa, owner of Beacon Natural, stepped up to fill the shoes.

LT put the word out seeking funding, and businesses in Beacon stepped up to pitch in. You can read all about it here. This year, according to his wife, Kitty Sherpa, LT had reached out to ask the City of Beacon for permission to hold the event again. LT waited for an answer, and eventually “got a hard no from the City, who said that they were not going to hold the fireworks,” Kitty said. LT was prepared to do the fundraising again for 2021, but is not for this year.

Other Events The City Wants To Greenlight

The first event that the City of Beacon approved was called the Modern Makers Market from Hops on the Hudson down at Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park in May 2021. That event encountered some resistance from City Council, as people were still wary of coming out for a public event. While the event promised masks would be worn by vendors and ticketed guests, several were not, as seen in the Highlands Current. Masks were still mandated at the time.

The park was also stated by Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White at the 5/24/2021 to be open to the public, or “not fully closed” and open to people who people who want to walk along to go fishing, but there was a police barricade at the park entrance, and public access was not easy, if it was possible. The markers market was a ticketed event, as mandated by state requirements at the time.

At its 5/24/2021 Workshop Meeting, the City of Beacon’s City Council discussed potential upcoming events that were to be considered, including a Brew Fest, the Beacon Sloop Club Strawberry Festival (but the organizers stated they did not want to have it), Taco Festival, Family Fun Day at Springfield Baptist Church, Beacon Sloop Club Corn Festival, Spirit of Beacon Day, Bike Safety Day on Catherine Street, and other events.

The 4th of July Fireworks at Memorial Park were not on that list.

Annual Reading of Declaration of Independence To Be Read On July 4th

Dennis Pavlov, host and organizer of the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence for the past 11 years in Beacon, announced during a Community Segment at the 6/21/2021 City Council Meeting that the reading would take place at the usual time of 11am at 1 Municipal Plaza.

Said Dennis: “I started it in Steve Gold's administration. Why did I start it? There is more to these patriotic holidays than parades, fireworks, cookouts and BBQs. Our forefathers, I don't believe, should be left out. That's the reason I started doing it. Regardless of what is said and how it is said, the forefathers are some of my heroes. July 4th looked different last year, maybe we will have more people this year because of different circumstances.”

This year, Dennis stated, there is no longer a committee, refreshments or copies of Declaration of Independence handed out. Former Mayor Clara Lou Gould had also served on the committee.

Fireworks Postponed In Beacon This Year - 3 Alternative Dutchess County Drive-In Experiences Planned (And A Note About Juneteenth)

The City of Beacon has decided to postpone the fireworks this year, opting to wait until later. Says Beacon’s City Administrator, Anthony Ruggiero during a recent City Council meeting and via email to A Little Beacon Blog: “We are looking to schedule them for either later in the summer or for the Spirit of Beacon Day.” The fireworks display is usually funded by individual fundraisers in Beacon, and is not a full city-funded event.

The Spirit of Beacon Day is a large outdoor street event, which involves a parade from each of Beacon’s six schools, plus churches, non-profits, and businesses. It was created in the 1970s in response to racially based riots between Beacon and Cold Spring. You can read all about it here.

September is the beginning of the school season, which also launches the sick season to follow from October to March. October usually kicks off the germy season with upsets tummies from Halloween candy, and coincidental stomach bugs that follow. Valentine’s Day in February tends to launch the same thing with the candy disbursed to friends in class. Several families with young kids are usually sick for family holiday events in December.

Pair that with COVID, and one should have a delightful school season, if school is back in session, which every parent wishes it is, but knows that it may be with several restrictions, like half-class sizes or a class rotation of some kids going on AB days, and other kids going on CD days. Maybe Fridays will be off. Who knows! Totally made that up, don’t quote us.

Fireworks At 3 Alternative Dutchess County Drive-Thru Experiences Planned

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro announced Dutchess County Government, in partnership with the Hudson Valley Renegades, Silo Ridge Field Club, the Dutchess County Fairgrounds and iHeartMedia of the Hudson Valley, will host “Dutchess County Goes Renegade,” 3 free, socially distant fireworks displays around the County, open to all residents on Saturday, July 4th.

County Executive Molinaro said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has robbed us all of so much, but nothing will stop Dutchess County from honoring the birth of our nation. Our residents deserve the chance to celebrate this most American of holidays – even as we remain safely and socially distant – and our County is proud to collaborate with our community partners to present a patriotic observance worthy of our country, as we strive every day to fulfill the radical undeniable truth, that all are created equal endowed with certain unalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I urge residents to join Dutchess County and honor those first renegades who battled tyranny and founded our beloved United States, all while we savor a nighttime spectacle that will light up the sky!”

2 Independance Days: Juneteenth (June 19) vs “The 4th Of July”

The celebration of Juneteenth in 2020 woke up many white people that the holiday of Juneteenth existed at all: the holiday of emancipation and Independence for black people from enslavement and ownership as property by white people. This year, Juneteenth was a joyous day celebrated in many backyards and public parks. When Juneteenth was first created, black people were not allowed to celebrate it in public parks because of state-sponsored segregation, inspiring a small group in Texas to buy their own property and invite people to come on down. When the 4th of July celebration started in 1777, black people were still slaves.

Emancipation was signed in 1863, yet African-Americans not granted residency until 1868 when the 14th Amendment was ratified. Since the citizenship of black people was not recognized, they feared being removed from their homes, and colonized, as their Indians had been onto reservations.

Indeed, in Beacon, there was a colonized community of African-Americans in the Bank Square area, which is where Mattie Cooper first began her church on near South Avenue and Academy Street and Rombout Avenue (send in a correction if you know it!). Her church was bulldozed down during Urban Renewal in the 1960s, where African-Americans were paid to relocated to other areas of the city. My neighbor’s mother was paid $27,000 to move from the Bank Square to buy a home further into Beacon.

It should also be noted that when early Americans were battling tyranny, like during the Boston Tea Party, some did so in disguise as Native American Indians. Thereby framing a race of people when they were protesting taxation. In theory, those Americans were not represented as they were hiding behind costumes.

The 3 Dutchess County approved venues are:

• Dutchess Stadium, 1500 Route 9D, Wappinger (500 cars)

• Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6636 Route 9, Rhinebeck (3,000 cars)

• Silo Ridge Field Club Equestrian Center (Keane Stud), 217 Depot Hill Road, Amenia (300 cars)

Arrival: Gates will open to vehicles at each location at 7:30 p.m.

Start Time: 9:30pm at each site. iHeartMedia of the Hudson Valley will host live remotes from each of the sites, broadcasting on several of its stations, and will synchronize patriotic music to the fireworks.

Social Distancing: According to the county’s press release, vehicles will be properly spaced to conform to social distancing.

Food? Yes, bring your own.

Drink? No alcohol is permitted in any venue.

Bathrooms? None. Go before you leave!

Beacon's Fireworks To Be Held Saturday, June 29, 2019

The City of Beacon’s fireworks will be held on Saturday, June 29, 2019, at Memorial Park. The organizing of Beacon’s fireworks changed hands last year, which A Little Beacon Blog wrote about here.

The festivities continue under the helm of Beacon Recreation Department, made possible by Beacon Natural Market, Key Food, and The Roundhouse.