On Thursday, July 2, hundreds of members of Acton’s community gathered for the decades-old Independence Day Celebration at NARA Park for a day of festivities, history, music, and laser shows. The event took place from 4:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., signaling one of the final celebrations Acton has undertaken in its commemorations for the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.
July 4th, 1776 marked the date of formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress — the act that formally severed the ties between the 13 American colonies and Great Britain. Independence Day would officially be recognized as a federal holiday in 1870 under Ulysses S. Grant, the 38th president of the United States.
Acton’s celebration kicked off with an array of activities and games including free admission to the NARA Beach, inflatable obstacle courses and bounce houses, lawn games, and more. Food vendors soon arrived, providing a variety of local cuisines, while visitors remained welcome to bring their own picnic food and coolers.
A ceremonial start
At around 7:15, the historical remembrance of the day commenced with a rendition by Kiki Donahue of the U.S. national anthem, followed by a speech from Select Board Chair Alissa Nicol. Ms. Nicol’s speech began with an expression of gratitude for the many event organizers, sponsors and vendors who helped make the day possible. The speech then transitioned into the pride all Acton residents should value in their freedoms and equality. She warned that, around the world, actions that threaten civil liberties are ever-growing, and all should place a heavier importance on civic engagement and education — especially in a town with as rich a history as Acton.
After a brief musket volley demonstration by the Acton Minutemen, Acton resident Mike Gowing undertook one of the main attractions of the day: the reading of the Declaration of Independence. The remembrance ended with a final rendition of “God Bless America,” and was quickly followed by this year’s concert featuring “The Boss Project,” presenting a Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band tribute act. Finally, the day ended with a laser show accompanied by music, replacing the usual fireworks display.
Following the ceremony, Select Board Chair Alissa Nicol spoke with The Acton Exchange about several notable changes to this year’s celebration, including the event date and the replacement of fireworks with a laser show.
Why not fireworks on the 4th?
Ms. Nicol discussed some of the changes to this year’s celebration. First was the decision to hold the event on July 2 rather than July 4, the date John Adams noted in his writings and Congress passed later. Ms. Nicol informed us that this date was the one that worked best for all the parties involved including the band and individuals helping with the laser show. Furthermore, having July 4 fall on a Saturday this year brought the concerns of an excessive increase in traffic and cost that weekends would bring.
Next, was the controversial decision to replace the usual fireworks with Pinnacle Laser Light’s laser show. The Acton Select Board voted on Dec.15 to discontinue using appropriated town funds for fireworks. This decision followed much discussion and was met with both advocates and critics.
Acton resident Janice Ward said by email to the Acton Exchange, “Everyone I talk to is shocked and really upset about this ‘closed door’ session that eliminated the fireworks on the 250th birthday of the country after we voted to spend the money at town meeting.” According to Select Board Chair Nicol, other residents, including Acton veterans, felt fireworks were a staple of Acton’s celebration, and wished to preserve this tradition.
In the end, however, the no-fireworks proposal was passed for multiple reasons, including environmental impact, high costs paired with an already strained budget, regional competition for temporary staffing with other large events (such as World Cup, Tall Ships), and the requirement for so many Acton staff (such as police, fire, public works) to work overtime to meet the needs of fireworks at NARA park.
(Editor’s note: The changes to the July 4 celebration were discussed and unanimously approved in a regular open Select Board session on December 15, 2025. See https://www.acton-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11142/2025-12-15-Select-Board-VOTES-RECORDED?bidId= or ActonTV video.)
Instead, great music, fun, and a laser show
After the welcoming ceremony and the reading of the Declaration, Springsteen fans were treated to a free concert as The Boss Project tribute band hit the stage promptly at 8:00. The well-traveled group played faithful renditions of the real Boss’s songs, and the lead singer engaged the audience between songs. He made references to Boston’s role during the Revolution, at one point mentioning Acton’s own Isaac Davis, the first Army officer to be killed in the Battle of Concord. Due to the hot, humid weather, several misting fans kept the band cool.
During intermission, Acton TV Director Marc Duci was recognized as the recreation department’s Volunteer of the Year, for which he was awarded citations from the Massachusetts House and Senate. For refreshments, there was an ice cream truck, burgers, and chicken available, along with beer or wine for the adults, and plenty of glow rings for sale, too.
The second half kicked off with Jungleland, from Springsteen’s Born to Run album, with the promised lasers now enhancing the music. The crowd size was a tiny fraction of last year’s Fourth party at NARA, possibly due to the lack of fireworks this year and the weeknight date, but still comparable to the turnouts for the town’s summer weekend concerts. Plus, parking was a breeze — and you couldn’t beat the price!
All things considered, while this year’s celebration featured several changes from previous years, the event continued Acton’s long tradition of honoring Independence Day through an emphasis on history and community. The celebration brought together hundreds of community members to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary and reflect on the freedoms and opportunities of their community and country.
Shivank Shroff is a life long Acton resident and student at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School. He enjoys being engaged with the community and reporting on local politics and projects.
Acton Exchange reporter James Conboy contributed to reporting for this article.
