RUTLAND — The town is all in for July 4th again this year: Independence Day the Rutland Way! is this year’s theme.
Festivities kick off on Friday, June 30, and run through Tuesday, July 4. Food, music, lip sync, fireworks, and of course, the annual parade are all on tap for the long weekend.
Independence Day schedule
Friday, June 30
Road race, kids 5 p.m./adults 5:30 p.m. Registration at 4 p.m. Adult $20, children $10. Sponsored by the Rutland Lions Club. Held at Milk Room Brewing Co.
Band concert, Booty & The Jett, 4-7 p.m., sponsored by the Milk Room Brewing Co.
Bonfire, 5-8 p.m., sponsored by the Milk Room Brewing Co.
Food trucks at Milk Room Brewing Co.: Batch Ice Cream, Fired Up Pizza, Morawski BBQ and The Bison Bandwagon.
Saturday, July 1
Ann Marie Gordon Junior Olympics, 9:30 a.m. (registration at 8:30 a.m.). For ages 5-12 at Memorial Field. Sponsored by Cub Scout Pack #141.
Volleyball tournament, 11 a.m. (registration at 10:30 a.m.). Ages 13 and older, Memorial Field. Sponsored by the Briggs Family. Rain date: Sunday, July 2.
Bike & doll carriage parade, noon (register online at https://secure.rec1.com/MA/rutland-ma/catalog), sunny common (in front of the churches). Sponsored by Rutland Recreation.
Historical Society Open House & Lemonade Social, 1-3 p.m., Wood House, Main Street.
Lip Sync, 2-4 p.m. (registration 1-1:45 p.m.). For all ages, held on the town common. Sponsored by Girl Scouts Pine Hill Service Unit.
Band concert, The Midnight Riders, 6-9 p.m. on the town common.
Saturday food trucks: Cub Scouts Pack #141, Bakes All Day, Rutland Congregational Church, Fired Up Pizza, Lilac Hedge (TBD).
Sunday July 2
Town Picnic, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on the town common. Pack a picnic full of your favorite foods, bring your blankets and chairs, and enjoy a summer afternoon with friends and family.
The Magic of Steve Charette, noon-1 p.m., followed by Balloon Animals, 1-3 p.m. on the town common.
Band concert Chuck & Mud, 1:30-3:30 p.m., town common.
Sunday Food trucks: Rutland Congregational Church, Flippin the Bird.
Monday, July 3
Chicken BBQ, 4:30 p.m. behind the fire station. Sponsored by the Rutland Fire Brigade.
Strawberry Festival, 5 p.m. on the town common. Sponsored by the Rutland Lions Club.
Band concert The Flock, 7-10:30 p.m. on the common.
FIREWORKS, 9:20 p.m. at Memorial Field. Rain date: Saturday, July 8.
Monday food trucks: Cub Scouts Pack #141, Rutland Congregational Church, Rutland Lions Club, Bison Bandwagon, Fired Up Pizza, Lilac Hedge (TBD), Baked and Dolce Vita, Baked All Day, Flippin the Bird, Morawski BBQ.
Tuesday, July 4
Celebrity Pancake Breakfast, 8-11 a.m., Rutland Community Center, Glenwood Road. Sponsored by Friends of the Council on Aging.
75th Annual Parade, 2 p.m. Independence Day the Rutland Way! 75 years and counting! Participants must be registered in advance. Check in 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.. Floats/cars, check in at Route 56/Rutland State Hospital Road; bands/politicians, check in at Naquaug Elementary School parking lot.
Tuesday food trucks: Rutland Congregational Church, Baked All Day, Flippin the Bird, Baked & Dolce Vita, Lilac Hedge (TBD), Morawski BBQ.
