Best places to watch parades, music and fireworks in Chittenden County on July 4

Looking for an event to celebrate the Fourth of July? Look no further than right in Chittenden County, where you don't have to travel far to find a host of ways to mark Independence Day.

Towns across the county will be marching in parades, listening to live music in parks and sprawling out to watch fireworks displays over multiple nights. Here's a list of what will be going on to celebrate Independence Day alongside neighbors and visitors.

More information can be found on the towns' websites and media pages.

Burlington

A fireworks display will take place 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 3 at the Burlington waterfront. There will be live music and food vendors before and after the fireworks display. More information can be found here.

Colchester

Colchester will be having the annual 4th of July Parade at 10 a.m. at Colchester High School. The parade will proceed from Colchester High School, down Blakely Road and end at Lavigne Road. Road closure is expected to be one hour. Before the parade, a 5K Fun Run will begin at Middle Road.

Bayside Park will have a variety of activities, including food vendors, inflatables and live music. Fireworks will take place at dusk from the Bayside Softball Field

Essex Junction

The Essex Junction Fourth of July Celebration is Thursday, July 4 at 6 p.m. at the Champlain Valley Fairgrounds Midway Lawn. The event will feature food from over a dozen vendors, live music by Sticks and Stones, 11 different inflatables, face painting and balloon artists. Fireworks take place at 9:30 p.m.

Milton

The Milton Fourth of July Parade kicks off 11 a.m. Thursday with participants marching from Herrick Avenue to Park Place.

At Bombardier Park West, festivities will run throughout the evening. Guests can enjoy food trucks, live music, free mini-golf and a DJ before the fireworks show begins at 9:30 p.m.

Richmond

Richmond will have a variety of events happening for their July 4th celebration. A Fun Run will kick off the events at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 4, at Camel's Hump Middle School and finishing at Volunteers' Green. The run will be followed by a parade at 10:35 starting at Lemroy Court.

Events will move to Volunteers' Green with a showcase of live music, food and karaoke and finishing with fireworks at 9:45 p.m.

Shelburne

Celebrate Independence Day at the Shelburne Museum with the 2024 Summer Festival Tour: Symphony of Stars. The gates open at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking, and the Vermont Symphony Orchestra begins at 7:30 p.m., followed by fireworks.

Williston

The July 4th Parade will begin at 10 a.m. on U.S. 2 from Old Stage Road to Johnson Farm.

Sydney P. Hakes is the Burlington city reporter. Contact her at SHakes@gannett.com.