Middlesex County is an area standout when it comes to Independence Day celebrations. It boasts big Fourth of July-themed events in three separate Middlesex communities — Urbanna, Deltaville and Water View. Each has its own special approach to celebrating the nation’s 248th birthday.
Urbanna
Thursday, July 4
A family fun festival will be offered in Taber Park at 425 Bonner St. in Urbanna.
- Day passes for the newly dedicated Marshall Community Pool, also in Taber Park, are $5 for Urbanna residents and $8 for out-of-town residents.
- For children and those young at heart there will be a rock climbing wall, a foam party (bring a change of clothes), “Batter Up” with Nerf balls, and a cornhole tournament.
- From noon to 4 p.m. DJ Hammer will play recorded music. From 5-9 p.m.
- Ron Joseph’s Strawberry Street Cafe food truck, an Urbanna Oyster Festival regular, will have a child-friendly menu of hot dogs, hamburgers and ice cream from noon to 4 p.m., with crab cakes and other specialties added to the menu at 4 p.m.
- “The Michael Clark Band featuring Tracey Clark” will play soul, R&B and classic rock.
Friday, July 5
- On Friday, July 5, there will be a town-wide “yard” sale in Urbanna.
- Also, on July 5, the fifth annual Urbanna Independence Day-themed golf cart procession is planned to start at 10:30 a.m. at Carts Inc. at 131 Grace Ave., then make several loops through downtown Urbanna.
Organizers haven’t released the golf cart procession’s exact route, but most anywhere along Virginia or Cross streets in downtown Urbanna should offer good viewing opportunities. For information, call 804-207-3221.
Saturday, July 6
On Saturday, July 6, activities shift to the Urbanna Town Marina, 210 Oyster Road, with two music groups, food and fun.
- Ron Joseph’s Strawberry Street Cafe food truck
- Kayak and stand-up paddle board games and a water slide.
- Disc jockey, Middlesex Supervisor Wayne Jessie Sr., will play tunes from noon to 3 p.m., while the David Esleck Trio performs jazz for one hour starting at 3 p.m.
- The Urbanna Boat Parade is set for 4 p.m. Call the town hall at 804-758-2613 to sign up.
- Dance Candy will perform from 5-9 p.m.
Parking is limited at the marina, but the town trolley-style mini bus, “Pearl,” will shuttle between the town hall at 390 Virginia St. and the marina and riders can flag it down for a lift.
The marina’s boat ramp will be closed for July 6.
Deltaville
Although insurance concerns that surfaced this year have prompted Urbanna to put aside its long tradition of offering a fireworks show along its waterfront, Middlesex County will still be the site of a good fireworks display — Deltaville is having one.
Fireworks will start after the Deltaville Deltas-Chesapeake Sharks 6 p.m. baseball game on Saturday, July 6, at the Deltaville Ballpark at 100 Ball Park Road. The fireworks will likely start sometime between 9 and 9:15 p.m..
Water View
The Upper Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department (UMVFD) in Water View is sponsoring an Independence Day-themed event with a parade and other activities on Saturday, July 6.
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Last year’s Independence Day celebration in Water View. (Photo by Larry Chowning) The parade through Water View will start at 11:30 a.m.
- Vendors and other activities will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“This is the first year we are having vendors,” said UMVFD Fire Chief Billy Collier.
“We will be serving lunch right after the parade and hope people will bring their family members and their friends.”
