Waltham lights up the sky with early Independence Day celebration

Fireworks lit up the sky around 9:15 p.m. Sunday as thousands of Waltham residents gathered to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s independence at an event held ahead of July 4.

Preparations began in the afternoon as police and fire officials worked to secure the area around the Riverwalk.

“Currently, we have a lot of personnel on the Riverwalk. We have the state police here who have done some bomb sweeps. We have done some checking in all our trash receptacles. We are going to cordon off the Riverwalk itself so people can’t be there when there’s a fallout when the fireworks go off,” said Anthony Vasquez, a Waltham police captain.

There has also been controversy about the celebration being a week before July 4. Randy Mullin, chief of the Waltham Fire Department, explained the reasoning behind the earlier date.

“We cannot do this on the Fourth of July. The state will not give us a permit on the third, the fourth or the fifth, and that’s because we do them in the river. We need a permit to do them in the river and the Riverwalk, but all the state police assets are tied up in Boston on those days, so we can only do it before or afterwards,” Mullin said.

Alongside city officials and first responders, volunteers were present at the event, including Zachary Bourque, founder of the Hydrate Our Heroes initiative. At the celebration, he handed out water to first responders and attendees.

“For first responders, it’s free water. I am suggesting a $2 donation from anybody who might want water tonight. It will go toward my operation called Hydrate Our Heroes,” Bourque said.

The event also included food vendors, live music and children’s toy vendors.

Waltham residents shared their favorite parts of the annual Independence Day celebrations, highlighting the event’s significance. For some, it was their first time celebrating Independence Day in the United States.

“It’s the U.S.’s 250th Independence Day that I am excited about. This is the first time I am celebrating U.S. Independence Day here, in the U.S.,” Anant Rose said.

Several residents said they enjoyed the sense of community at the celebration.

“I am excited about the fact that we get to see so many people who live here. My daughter has already run into about seven different people she goes to school with, which is amazing, and it makes you feel like you are part of a community,” Kylie McCarthy said.

“I am super excited for the fireworks, but also every year, I love seeing all of Moody Street be closed down so we can have the festivals. I love hanging out with my friends and stuff, so much good food, so many good toys and trinkets to get. It’s a great spot,” Derek Dowcett said.

Waltham Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy said the fireworks reminded her of past celebrations in the city.

“I like the fireworks, honestly. You know, it’s always good to have fireworks around the Fourth here. And it reminds me of when I was a kid, when we used to have them at Leary Field,” McCarthy said.

For children, the celebration brought its own excitement. Some said they were most excited about the bubbles, the fireworks and seeing their friends as families gathered across Moody Street for the celebration.