Independence Day Celebrations, 2022

Saturday, July 2nd

African Meeting House – 2:00 PM

Reading Frederick Douglas Celebrate the legacy of Frederick Douglass by reading a passage from his famous Fourth of July speech ” What to the Slave is the Fourth of July”.

Frederick Douglass had strong connection to the island of Nantucket where his career as a public speaker was launched. His first speech was at the anti-slavery convention on August 11, 1841, at the Nantucket Atheneum Great Hall at the invitation of William C. Coffin, an abolitionist and businessman.

The event is a part of a statewide initiative where a number of communities read the address together and reflect on our past and present.

This event is sponsored by the Museum of African American History Boston | Nantucket, Cape Cod Verdean Museum and Cultural Center, and the Town of Nantucket Culture & Tourism Department.

Monday, July 4th

Main Street – 10 AM to noon

At 10:00am at the Dreamland Theatre, there will be a Spotlight on Democracy roundtable with Peter Baker, chief White House Correspondent for the New York Times, Susan Glasser columnist for the New Yorker magazine and former CNN and NBC host David Gregory. 

At 11:00am on Main Street, students from the Nantucket Community Music Center will sing. The morning will be capped off by a “contained water contest” between the Town of Nantucket Fire Department versus the Boynton Lane Reserves at Noon (Please note: The public is invited to watch the water contest, but in the interest of safety, they will not be participating). Hungry for breakfast? Be sure to stop at the food trucks on Federal Street. 

Don’t forget to visit the Farmer’s Market on Cambridge Street and the Nantucket Island Center for Entrepreneurs showcase in the Atheneum garden on India Street.

Children’s Beach Activities – 10:00 AM to noon

Enjoy the Matt Fee Tea Toss (while they last) Participate in a cornhole tournament, Visit the NiSHA table. P.J. Moody kicks off the morning with some patriotic music. Then watch the Nanpuppets on the bandstand at 10:30am, Stick around for the Bike Parade around the park perimeter after 11:00am. P.J. Moody returns to the bandstand to sing during the 11:00 hour. Don’t forget to celebrate the day by hamming it up at the Zofia & Co. photobooth with your friends.

Children’s Beach Activities – 5:00 PM

At 5:00pm, be sure to watch the potato sack race, three legged race, wheel barrow race, and famous tug of war on the beach. It will be a fun time for all!

Fireworks at Jetties Beach – 9:00 PM

End the day with the best fireworks display on Nantucket. Fireworks will be shot from a barge just offshore and will last about 25-27 minutes.