Members of the Perth Amboy Youth Alliance are helping spread the word about the City’s annual Celebrate Our Stars & Stripes event to mark America’s birthday. On July 3rd, the great family event begins at 5 PM in Sadowski Park. Everyone is welcome to enjoy games, dancing, food, music and refreshments along the scenic and relaxing waterfront. At 8 PM, the First Annual Stars & Stripes Boat Parade begins, and 30-plus vessels, which are creatively decorated, will cruise across Raritan Bay from Perth Amboy to South Amboy and back. At 9:15, everyone will be ready for the spectacular fireworks display. Youth Alliance team with Perth Amboy Municipal Alliance Coordinator Isamar Payano (third from the left) are standing by Brighton Avenue Community Center that adjoins Sadowski Parkway. *Photo by the Perth Amboy Business Improvement District (BID)
Perth Amboy and South Amboy Are Hosting Fantastic July 3rd Celebrations
That Include Spectacular Fireworks, a Big Boat Parade and Many Cool Events
Everyone is welcome to the beautiful waterfronts to relax, play games, eat, listen to music,
Watch dazzlingly, decorated vessels, dance and chill before the sensational fireworks
Press Release 6/22/18
PERTH AMBOY/SOUTH AMBOY – The final countdown has begun for the marvelous, fun-filled, patriotic and exciting July 3rd Celebration of America’s birthday! The grand events will be hosted by South Amboy, Perth Amboy and the not-for-profit Celebrate Our Stars & Stars organization.
Games, food trucks, music, food and family fun are the opening act of the Independence Day celebration that includes the First Annual Stars & Stripes Boat Parade at 8 PM. More than 35 vessels are expected to cruise in the parade and each craft will be decorated with brilliant lights, banners, and flags. The parade begins by the Outerbridge Crossing, moves along the Perth Amboy waterfront, heads across Raritan Bay to South Amboy and ends near the barges that are used to safely launch the fireworks.
The main event starts at 9:15 PM − the brilliant, bombastic and breath-taking firework extravaganza over the bay will be staged by world-renowned Garden State Fireworks.
Each city is offering family-friendly activities, games, and adventures for all ages. Beginning at 4 PM, South Amboy’s Recreation Department will entertain guests with:
• Games for children and interactive inflatables in the beautiful Raritan Bay Waterfront Park
• 10 food trucks are going to provide hot dogs and burgers, smoothies, snacks, refreshments, ice cream, Thai food, Zeppole, Italian food and much more.
Everyone can bring their beach chairs, blankets and picnic baskets, and then find a prime viewing spot near the shoreline. A professional deejay has a custom-selected playlist of music including Americana songs, marches as well as pop, rap, and salsa selections. The City asks that all pets are left at home. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Perth Amboy’s Recreation Department is creating a fun celebration in Sadowski Park and along the shore starting at 5PM. The events for everyone include:
• Beach volleyball, sand soccer, horseshoes, Slip ‘N Slide water mats, tug of war, Kan-Jam
disc games, beach ball relay and much more
• Dance contest on the beach will be choreographed by the DJ, who is bringing all the best music.
Just arrive early to enjoy all the fun with families, friends and neighbors. Perth Amboy is also arranging to have food trucks onsite to provide fast casual cuisine, refreshments, tacos, burgers and hot dogs, ice cream and desserts as well as July 4th novelty items.
South Amboy Mayor Fred Henry said, “Our Recreation Director Jaclyn Keegan-Kelly and her enthusiastic team are arranging a wonderful event for our residents and their guests. We also want to thank each of our generous sponsors and Celebrate Co-Chairman Michael “Mickey” Gross, our City Council President, who is working overtime to make the celebration a sensational happening!”
For the event, South Amboy is providing parking near the high school and train station. People with handicapped parking permits may bring their vehicles to the county park.
Perth Amboy is also making free parking available at its train station parking and the City’s Jefferson Street parking deck. Local roads to Sadowski Park will be closed and Sadowski Parkway will become a pedestrian mall at 5 PM. The City is providing free shuttle bus service from the parking deck and station.
“We are absolutely ecstatic about the great family event Superintendent of Recreation Kenny Ortiz and his teammates are planning on July 3rd,” said Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz. “Independence Day is the time when we pause as a community to reflect on our shared liberties, freedoms, and diverse heritages. We are fortunate that America is an exceptional country.”
Mayor Diaz continued, “Our City is also recognizes all the efforts by Celebrate our Stars & Stripes Chairman Barry Rosengarten and the outstanding contributions by Yolanda Flores. They have coordinated the many amazing details that go into staging our Independence Day celebration. We are grateful for donations made by our corporate sponsors. We also thank Business Improvement District Executive Manager Junel Hutchinson, Coordinator Randy Convery and Boat Parade Co-Captains Gary Rumpf and Jeff Steuber with assistance from Coordinating Navigator Bill Schultz. They have spent many hours preparing for this incredible event. Please come and join us.”
For more details about the July 3rd events, visit the Celebrate Our Stars & Stripes website: http://www.celebratestarsandstripes.com/. Boat owners can still register online for the patriotic boat parade at: http://www.celebratestarsandstripes.com/boatparade.html.
Officers from both cities’ police and fire departments, along with emergency medical technicians, will be near the viewing sights to assist anyone who needs directions, information about parking or other help.
The rain date for the Independence Day celebrations in South Amboy and Perth Amboy is Thursday, July 5.
