Summer on Nantucket Island is special. The beach, the boats, the bikes, and the history of the seaport town make it a wonderful summer destination. Perhaps THE BEST time to be on Nantucket is over the Independence Day holiday. The town celebrates our Independence with fireworks, family activities, and children’s games on the beach. 
The holiday celebration kicks off at 9PM on Monday, July 3rd, 2017, with Fireworks at Jetties Beach. The fireworks display will be launched from a barge anchored about one mile offshore, so the display can be viewed from a number of areas on the island. The bangs, pops, and sizzles will be synchronized to music – you can get the full musical effect by tuning to 97.7 ACK-FM. On that evening, the Wave – the Island shuttle-bus system, will provide transportation from the Whaling Museum on Broad Street to the Jetties Beach. The bus runs will begin at 6PM and cost $1 each way, half price for seniors. After the Fireworks, buses will return every 10-15 minutes until 11PM. Bring a blanket or chair to watch this fantastic Fireworks Display and begin the celebration to wish the USA a Happy Birthday!
On July 4th, the whole town gets into the celebration with lots of fun and varied Main Street Events!
Each year, members of the Nantucket Community read the Declaration of Independence to start the day. Join the residents in this tradition at 9AM in the historic Unitarian Meeting House just off Main Street in the center of town. There will be a patriotic sing-a-long with the Meeting House Community Chorus and Sousa marches will be played on the 1843 Goodrich Organ. Children will have an opportunity to add their “John Hancock” to a replica of the Declaration of Independence. They can also ring the 1815 Portuguese bell that hangs in the gold dome of the Meeting House. This ceremony is a heart-stirring, patriotic start to the day.
From the Meeting House, head out the Main Street for lots of old-fashioned fun summer activities. Trumpets will play Reveille to alert everyone to the start of the all-day funfest. Try your hand at dropping a local celebrity into the Dunk Tank. Maybe your talent is more in line with the Pie Eating Contest or Watermelon Eating Contest. Face Painting will be an additional way to display the red, white, and blue! Show your patriotism by decorating your bike with stars and stripes. The complete schedule will be available on the steps of the Pacific National Bank all during the Main Street festivities.
At 5PM, kids will team-up with young family members and friends for traditional games at Children’s Beach. When is the last time your child competed in a 3-legged race? That takes coordination and cooperation – a great team-building experience! Get a team together for a round of tug-o-war. Start practicing your jumping skills now for the sack race. These are all great old-fashioned ways to play, get dis-connected from all our usual electronics, and breathe in some great salt air!
While all these Independence Day special events are happening, historic tours, and museum tours are available at the Whaling Museum and harbor tours from a number of cruise lines on Nantucket. Make your reservations with us now to enjoy an Independence Day Celebration done Nantucket-style!
