Independence Day activities kick off in Marion, Mattaoisett
Fireworks lit up the sky around Silvershell Beach in Marion. Photos by Grace Roche
From left: Karen Gray, Tracy Djerf, Roxanne Burget and Drew Nahigyan, all of Mattapoisett, pose together at the community picnic. 
Colin Curtis enjoys ice cream from Oxford Creamery. 
From left: Lynette Alves and Lori Mello, of Mattapoisett, and Paul Cafasso, of Canton, enjoyed a picnic meal together. 
From left: Oz Lehner, 4, Colin Curtis, 9, Dakota Nahigyan, 8, Nola Nahigyan, 4, Mina Lehner, 7, and Vera Lehner, 7 smile with organizer Barbara Gaspar. 
Crowds gathered on the beach and nearby streets in Marion to see the fireworks. 
Patriotic balloons decorate the area around Ned's Point Lighthouse. 
Organizers thanked people for coming to the picnic and honored service members who died in duty.
Fireworks lit up the sky around Silvershell Beach in Marion. Photos by Grace Roche
From left: Karen Gray, Tracy Djerf, Roxanne Burget and Drew Nahigyan, all of Mattapoisett, pose together at the community picnic.
Colin Curtis enjoys ice cream from Oxford Creamery.
From left: Lynette Alves and Lori Mello, of Mattapoisett, and Paul Cafasso, of Canton, enjoyed a picnic meal together.
From left: Oz Lehner, 4, Colin Curtis, 9, Dakota Nahigyan, 8, Nola Nahigyan, 4, Mina Lehner, 7, and Vera Lehner, 7 smile with organizer Barbara Gaspar.
Crowds gathered on the beach and nearby streets in Marion to see the fireworks.
Patriotic balloons decorate the area around Ned's Point Lighthouse.
Organizers thanked people for coming to the picnic and honored service members who died in duty.
Tents and blankets dotted the grass around Ned’s Point Lighthouse Friday, July 3 as Mattapoisett kicked off its Independence Day celebration. Marion residents crowded Silvershell Beach and surrounding streets to watch the fireworks display that evening.
In Mattapoisett, residents gathered to enjoy food, free ice cream from Oxford Creamery and a performance by David Dunn at the afternoon gathering.
Debbie Soares, who both helped organize the event, said she wants more people to celebrate the country and appreciate what makes it special. Even if people have criticisms of their country, she said she wants them to be proud of it.
“It's kind of like being in a school,” Soares said. “If the principal has their issues, it trickles down, and that's what's happened to us. But here we are in our little community, doing our part.”
She pointed to how many soccer fans visiting for the World Cup said they were surprised by how the country is much different than they expected it to be, and said it “breaks her heart” that people don’t realize “how wonderful people were here.”
Mattapoisett resident Terel Soares said he grew up in town and enjoys having a close-knit community that comes together to celebrate occasions throughout the year.
“This is just extra special, it being America's birthday, and I'm happy that we live in a community that provides these sort of celebrations,” he said.
He said he and his family plan to continue the festivities at several South Coast towns on July 4.
Katlyn White, of Rochester, said her and her three kids have spent the weekend trying to stay cool at pools and Silvershell Beach.
Her and her family have watched the fireworks together with friends several times in the past year, and was thankful for the clear — if hot — weather.
“The beach was crowded, but not too bad,” White said. “Better than rain and fog.”
