WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A committee of volunteers is planning expanded Independence Day activities in recognition of the semiquincentennial celebration of the Declaration of Independence.

 

"I formed a Fourth of July Committee because this year is the 250th anniversary of the founding of the country," Select Board member Matt Neely told his colleagues at their March 9 meeting.

"At the time, I didn't think there was much going on for that, and I thought it should be a bigger and better event since it only comes around every 50 years."

 

Since the town already has a full day of events planned each year on July 4, Neely's committee is making the town's celebration "bigger and better" by expanding the festivities to July 3, which happens to be a Friday and the day of the federal government's observance of the "nation's birthday."

 

"So we're going to do the same Fourth we always do," Neely said. "We realized there wasn't any room for additional programming that day, and we didn't want to cannibalize any of the events that day.

 

"This year, July 3, which is a Friday is the federal holiday. So we figured since lots of people have that day off, we could add programming that day."

 

And since most of the town's existing July Fourth programs — the parade, a cookout at the bottom of Spring Street, fireworks at Taconic Golf Course — are located in the center of town, the ad hoc committee for the 250th celebration is directing its efforts toward South Williamstown.

 

Neely told the board that the group is planning an afternoon festival at the Williamstown Historical Museum at the five corners intersection followed by an evening concert at Waubeeka Golf Links across Route 7.