If you happen to be in Vermont for the 4th of July, it would not be a bad idea to roll through the quant, little, valley-town of Montpelier. In addition the luring charm it possesses, the capital city offers a brilliant 4th of July celebration. If nothing else, you must witness the fantastic fireworks display on the evening of July 3rd. The works are lit from an office building higher up the valley so the display seemingly unfolds directly over the town. It’s a fantastic show and certainly worth the visit to Montpelier. The most popular place to gather for the show, which usually begins just a little after dark, is the statehouse lawn. You might be able to see the show from other spots around town, but the statehouse offers the directly overhead, almost-cosmic experience. It’s advisable to bring a blanket, towel, or camping a chair, but it’s not necessary with the huge stone steps and sprawling lawn. Parking is usually a little hard to find, so it’s a good idea to arrive a bit early or walk. I would also suggest avoiding parking on State St., it gets extremely crowded just after the show and leaving becomes very difficult. It is also worth mentioning a few places you might grab a drink before making your way over to the works. The Langdon Street Café is a great place to grab a taste of the locally brewed beers, the vibe is earthy, relaxed, and often accompanied by live music. If that doesn’t sound like your thing, on Main St. you’ll find the Black Door Bar and Bistro, another great place to grab a drink with a little wider selection of liqueurs and beers. It’s also fine for a meal or evening musical entertainment. If your looking for dinner, there’s the Royal Orchid, which makes some great Thai food, across the street is That’s Life Soup, with very good, interesting flavors. Main St. offers Sarducci’s for quality Italian food right on the Winooski River, and for dessert there’s the classic Ben and Jerry’s. Before it gets dark, there’s the annual block party just off of State St. with live music and drinks, which kicks off in the afternoon and gathers momentum as it makes its way through the evening. There is also the afternoon parade, which is a must-see event, tractors, floats of all kinds, and often the famous Bread and Puppet Theatre making an appearance. You’ll be able to grab snacks and treats from a variety of vendors, fried dough, Sno-cones, and cotton candy. Montpelier’s 4th of July celebration is a wonderful community event to experience and take part in with either family or friends, sure to bear the fruit of great memories.
