Written By Linda Morton
In a letter to his wife, Abigail, on July 3, 1776, the second president, John Adams, wrote, “I believe that it [Independence Day] will be celebrated by succeeding Generations as the great anniversary Festival… It ought to be solemnized by Pomp and Parade, with Shows, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations from one end of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”
The tradition continues this summer at the Carroll County Farm Museum as the grand finale to an afternoon of old-fashioned patriotic celebrations and family fun.
For the past 31 years, the Farm Museum has been Carroll County’s focal point for July 4 festivities. They begin at the Farm Museum at noon. Stage entertainment, food vendors, and handmade crafts will be available until 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children 7-18 and for seniors 60 and over; children under 6 are free. No pets or alcoholic beverages are allowed. For more information, contact Jackie Koch at 410-386-3880.
For those who just want to attend the fireworks, after 5 p.m. the fee is $5 per car. Roads bearing inbound traffic close at 8:30 p.m. Cars will not be able to reach the Farm Museum grounds after that time. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. The show is sponsored by Rotary Clubs of Carroll County.
Rotarians are accepting donations to assist with the $18,000 production. Donors of $100 or more receive special parking privileges and are invited to join the Rotarians’ hospitality tent for front row seats to the fireworks show.
To make a donation, contact Joe Legge at Four Seasons Sports Complex, 2710 Hampstead Mexico Rd., Hampstead, Md. 21158 or call 410-239-3366.
Farm Museum activities will take place rain or shine. If rain prevents the fireworks display, a rain date will be announced.
