The Fourth of July Holiday falls on a Tuesday this year, which means a long four-day weekend for many and Independence Day celebrations throughout the region.

Friday, June 30

The fun begins Friday in Rindge and Hancock. A family fun day in Rindge on the town common begins at five Friday evening followed by fireworks at dusk. Festivities also begin at five o’clock in Hancock at Moose Brook Park Friday with lots of fun activities for the entire family followed by fireworks at dusk.

Saturday, July 1

Saturday events include a fireworks display beginning at dusk over Dublin Lake in Dublin. In Winchester, the Fireworks 100 race at the Monadnock Speedway will be followed by fireworks after the race.

Monday, July 3

There will be lots of opportunities to celebrate on Monday, July 3. The annual Night Before the 4th event hosted by the Hinsdale Beautification Committee will be celebrated Monday, from 5 p.m. until dusk in front of Hinsdale School on Brattleboro Road with fireworks set to begin at dusk.

In Keene, the Swamp Bats will hold their annual Independence Eve celebration at Alumni Field on Arch Street. The Bats play two Monday with a make-up game for an earlier rain out followed by a regularly scheduled contest set for 7:00 p.m. There will be concessions, face painting, games and other activities for kids. The fireworks will follow approximately 7 minutes after the late game ends according to Swamp Bats President Kevin Waterson. Overflow parking is available at the high school, at Arch Street churches or Wheelock Park.

Tuesday, July 4

In Brattleboro, Fourth of July events begin in the morning and run all day with fireworks scheduled for 9:30 p.m. The 50th Annual Fourth of July Parade begins at 10 a.m. on Canal Street to the Brattleboro Common. At Living Memorial Park there will be events for the entire family from 1 p.m. until dark.

The annual reading of the Declaration of Independence will be held in Antrim starting at 8:30 a.m. at Memorial Park on July 4. The Antrim Boy Scouts Troop 2 will lead the Pledge of Allegiance with the presentation of the colors, the band Yankee Doodle Dandies will play, and the Antrim Historical Society will provide light refreshments.

The 23rd town reading of the Declaration of Independence, from the stage of the historic 1775 Meetinghouse in Jaffrey Center, will be at noon on Tuesday, July 4. An ice cream social will follow behind the meetinghouse. The Little Red Schoolhouse will be open, and the restored Seagrave Fire Engine and a modern-day Jaffrey Fire Engine will be on the common. These free festivities are being co-sponsored by the Jaffrey Center Village Improvement Society, the Jaffrey Historical Society, the Jaffrey Historic District Commission and the Selectmen’s Meetinghouse Committee of the town of Jaffrey. The event will be held rain or shine.

And in Swanzey, children are invited to the annual tradition of ringing the bell in honor of Independence Day at The Mount Caesar Union Library at 628 Old Homestead Highway (Route 32) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, That event will also be held rain or shine.