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 July 3rd Independence Day Celebration

THANK YOU to all our sponsors, artists, volunteers, paraders, vendors and contributors.

Thank you to the City of Montpelier and the State of Vermont for hosting and supporting!

Free arts and activities on Sunday, July 3, 2011 throughout the Capital City.

 

For information re: Volunteers, Artists, Activities, Community Partnerships, the Parade, Vendors, Sponsorships, and Montpelier Alive festivals in general, contact: 

Jimmy Swift at 802-238-6888 or  jimmy@MontpelierAlive.org

 

 

Check out our POSTER   

Montpelier Alive is proud to present one of the biggest, most exciting events in Central Vermont this summer - the 12th Annual Independence Day Celebration, taking place Sunday, July 3rd in Montpelier.

VOLUNTEER! Become part of the crew that makes it happen!

Parade Applications - CLICK HERE

 

  MONTPELIER – Montpelier Alive is recruiting volunteers, printing posters, and planning the details for the 12th Annual Independence Day Celebration in downtown Montpelier, Vermont.  With arts and activities throughout downtown and at the State House, the Sunday, July 3rd event is shaping up to be one of the most exciting festivals in Central Vermont this summer. And bigger than ever before!

Perennial favorites include the Pancake Breakfast at Christ Episcopal Church and the Recreation Department’s free Family Fun Day at the Montpelier Pool. Trinity Methodist Church has a tag sale and chicken BBQ. The Vermont History Museum is free all day, with a star-spangled wand making workshop for kids from 1:00-4:00pm.

From 1:00 – 3:00pm, the new Montpelier Arts Collective hosts Downtown Fun, with a variety of street performers and artists making things happen on Main and Langdon Streets. Experience Nimble Arts circus performers, face painting, chalk art, clay play, open mike, a guerrilla art gallery, photo booth, Robot Artist Seth Collins, Cheap Art by Barbara Leder, bike decorating at Onion River Sports, plus music by Dave Keller, Jennifer Curtin, Lewis Franco and more. Busking meets shopping in downtown!

Lost Nation Theater has scheduled a special matinee performance of William Shakespeare’s most enchanting comedy, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, at 1:00pm in the City Hall Arts Center.

A full slate of Arts, Activities & Vendors get underway at the State House at 3:00pm, with artists from Nimble Arts Circus, puppets from The PuppeTree, outdoor art from the Montpelier Arts Collective, Community Hula Hoops with Lizzie Brood, Contemporary Dance & Fitness Studio, face painting, and a whole bunch more. Music, fun and games plus lots of activities for kids fill the lawn.  Forty food and craft vendors fill the street with edibles, wearables, and items of beauty.

The 6th annual Montpelier Mile Road Race at 6:00pm is prior to the parade and along the same route.

The annual Giant Parade begins at 6:00pm at the Main Street roundabout and goes down State Street past the State House. Three sections - history, circus and community – include color guards, veterans of foreign wars, fifes, pipes, & drums, a dozen bands, floats, antique vehicles and tractors, clowns, puppets, and numerous colorful community groups.  Conrad and Phyllis Rowell are honored as the Montpelier Rotary Club’s 2011 Distinguished Citizens of the Year.

Following the parade, a very special ceremony will be held at the Pavilion Building, where The Patriot Flag will be hung across State Street. The Patriot Flag is touring the country in honor of the responders at 9/11/2001, and celebrates all public safety personnel on the job today.

After the ceremony, two concerts take place on the State House steps. First playing is the Catamount Pipe Band, followed by country rock group Waylon Speed, segueing directly into fireworks by Northstar Fireworks at 9:30 with prime viewing from the State House lawn.  This year’s fireworks are bigger and better than ever thanks to the sponsorship of VSECU, the Festival Underwriter.

Outdoor parties take place from 7:30pm until midnight.  The Skinny Pancake presents indie rock band Toy Soldiers; McGillicuddy’s Irish Pub hosts its annual street dance on Langdon Street; and Julio’s Cantina throws a rocking dance party with The Starline Rhythm Boys in the parking lot next to the State Street restaurant.  Admission to these events is free.

 

                         

VSECU is the Underwriter of our festival and Sponsor of the Fireworks. Major support from the City of Montpelier, along with sponsorship from dozens of other local businesses makes the free activities, performances and parade possible.

 

“Montpelier’s Independence Day Celebration on Sunday, July 3rd, provides the wonderful opportunity for all to experience a renowned, event-filled day and evening at absolutely no cost to the individual or family courtesy of many local businesses and individuals. In these economic times, Montpelier Alive and the City of Montpelier want to be sure that no one is left out of this celebration.  In its twelve-year history, it only gets better each year!  Don’t miss the performances on the State House lawn, the parade, the events around the city and just the community spirit it exudes.” 

            - Beverlee Pembroke Hill, Assistant City Manager

 

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 All events will happen rain or shine!

Thank You to our Sponsors who make this festival possible!

Festival Underwriter & Fireworks Sponsor:

   

 

Lawn Sponsor:

 

With Major Support from the City of Montpelier

 

Additional Sponsorship by:

Platinum Plus Partners

People’s United Bank

Union Mutual of Vermont

Vermont Mutual Insurance Company

 

Platinum Partners

Goddard College

Hunger Mountain Co-op

Minuteman Press

Montpelier Pharmacy

Northfield Savings Bank

Onion River Sports, Onion River Kids & The Shoe Horn

 

Major Media Partners

Times Argus

Vermont Radio Group

 

Gold Partners

Community National Bank

Denis, Ricker & Brown Insurance

Green Mountain Transit Authority

Re-Bop Records

Union Institute and University

Vermont College of Fine Arts

 

Silver Partners

Bear Pond Books

Capitol Grounds

Cody Chevrolet

COPY WORLD

First In Fitness

Julio’s Cantina

Main Street Family Dentistry

Sarducci’s

State Farm Insurance – Dana Hock, Agent

The Drawing Board

 

Community Partners

Artisans Hand Craft Gallery

Capital Plaza Hotel & Conference Center

Diamond & Robinson PC

Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC

Fothergill, Segale & Valley

Lake Champlain Chocolates

Montpelier Kiwanis

Noyle W. Johnson Insurance

Rotary Club of Montpelier

The Skinny Pancake

Three Penny Taproom

Washington Electric Co-op

 

Downtown Partners

Capitol Stationers

Betsy’s Bed & Breakfast

Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

Gossens Bachman Architects

Maplewood Ltd Convenience Store

William Shouldice & Associates

 

Business Partners

Alteris Renewables

Angeleno’s Pizza

Black River Design

Bragg Farm Sugar House & Gift Shop

Cabot Creamery Cooperative

Capitol Copy

Comfort Inn & Suites

Concept2  

Connor Contracting

Everett Insurance

Fairpoint Communications

Guy’s Farm & Yard

Maple Capital Management

Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks

North Country Federal Credit Union

Phyllis E. Rubenstein, Attorney at Law

Tertl Studos LLC

Tim Newcomb Studios

Vermont Audiology

 

Media Partners

107.1 Frank FM

Froggy 100.9

The Bridge

The Point FM 104.7

The WORLD / World Publications, Inc.

WSNO 1450 AM

 

This sponsor list reflects commitments as of June 10, 2011. Some of our loyal sponsors from 2010 are listed as well! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Special thanks 

 To Pinky Clark and Linn Syz and the rest of the Festival Committee: Phayvanh Luekhamhan, Andy Hooper, Arlene Silva, Diane Palmer, Justin Bourgeois and Greg Guyette!

To Carrie Stahler, to the Montpelier Arts Collective, and to all of our community partners!

To the Production Team: Rich Davidian, Don Sidney, David Wolfe, Avalon Tent Company, and many community volunteers!  

To Brice McIntosh and Arlene Silva for design services!

To the Montpelier Arts Collective including Daniel Staples, Bridget Lasch, Becky Sheloske and Christine Hartman!

Street Closures & Parking Restrictions 

 Montpelier’s Independence Day celebration takes place throughout downtown on Sunday, July 3rd.  A number of streets will be closed during the day.  Travelers should expect delays or seek alternate routes, especially during the evening hours.  This is the schedule of street closures and parking restrictions.


• State Street--between Governor Davis and Bailey Avenue:  Closed from 12:30 PM until 10:30 PM for vendors and parade.  Note: Access to Department of Motor Vehicles will be re-routed through state parking lots.

• Main Street between the Roundabout and State Street:  Closed from 6 PM until approximately 7:45 for the Montpelier Mile Road Race followed by the parade.  Note: No parking on State Street between 5:00-8:00pm.  Vehicles on street will be towed.

• Langdon Street:  Closed from 3 PM to 1 AM for street party.

• 60 State Street Parking Lot:  Closed from 3 PM to 1 AM for Julio’s Cantina street party.

• The Meadow Area:  Closed from 4:30 to 6 PM for parade staging area.  All resident vehicles must be removed from the street.

• Schools Street—between St. Paul and Main Streets:  Closed from 4:30 to 7:45 PM for parade staging area.  All resident vehicles must be removed from the street.

 

Special Shuttle Service   

 The Green Mountain Transit Agency (GMTA) will be providing a free shuttle open to the general public approximately every 15 minutes on July 3rd in Montpelier. Beginning at 4:00PM, until 11:00PM, the shuttle will transport to/from the National Life parking lot to the corner of Governor Davis Avenue and State Street.

 All GMTA buses offer ADA Service and are equipped with wheelchair lifts and wheelchair tie-down spaces. GMTA and event organizers encourage individuals with special needs to take advantage of this free service for safe and easy access to the July 3rd celebration.

In addition to the shuttle provided between the hours of 4:00PM-11:00PM, the Montpelier Hospital Hill route will be automatically scheduled to deviate to National Life inbound to Montpelier at approximately 10min past the hour until the free shuttle service begins at 4:00PM. The MHH will go to National Life outbound by on-board request at 32min past the hour. Anyone at National Life at 32min past the hour may pay the fare and ride the MHH to the Mobile station at the corner of Northfield Street and Berlin Street. Please note that the bus will not return to the downtown area before going to the hospital hill area. The new 50% reduced fares will apply when riding the MHH.

SHUTTLE SCHEDULE:

4:00-11:00PM shuttle operating approximately every 15 minutes from:
1. National Life
2. State St./Governor Davis Avenue
3 City Hall from 5-8 pm in lieu of the State Street stop during the parade.

  

 

 


                                        Contact:    
                   Jimmy Swift, Festival Coordinator
                           Phone: 802.238.6888                                        jimmy@montpelieralive.org 

For General inquiries: leave message on Montpelier Alive phone 223-9604