After months of fundraising, the Marion Fireworks committee raised enough money to host the nighttime spectacle. Here are a few events in the days leading up the the July 5 show.

Marion Horse Show 

The Fourth of July will start off with the 72nd year of the Fourth of July Horse Show at Marion’s Washburn park, off Route 105. The open show will start at 8 a.m. and last until about 4:00 p.m. The show includes English, Western, driving, saddle seat and mini horse events. More than 18 barns and judges from Rhode Island to New Hampshire. 

The horse show this year is in memory of Tina Florindo, a lifelong horse show spectator that who passed away this year. 

The competition is free to the public to watch, and spectators are appreciated.The event will also have around ten vendors selling everything from handbags to soap, and a few activities for children (face painting and pony rides). R.W. Catering will provide burgers, hotdogs and cold drinks.

Show organizers accept rider entries until Wednesday at 9 p.m. To register, visit: http://marionhorseshow2018.com/

Marion Parade

The Annual Marion Fourth of July Parade will begin on July 4 at 9 a.m., offering participants the chance to celebrate the holiday and compete for prizes. 

The Parade will form beginning at 8 a.m. in the ball field behind the Marion Town House and adjacent to the Sippican School. Parade organizers will be on site to check participants in and to line up the parade.

Applications for the parade are available at the Marion Town House, or they can be submitted online at www.marionma.gov/fourth-july-parade-committee. Trophies will be awarded for first, second and third place in each category listed on the application. There is also a “best in parade” award.

Applications may be hand-delivered to the Marion Town House until July 3, and online applications will also be accepted until July 3. Applications will also be accepted on the morning of the parade until 8:30 a.m., however, pre-registration is preferred.

Participating groups for the 2019 parade include the Wareham Militia, Beverly Yacht Club, the Portuguese American Band, and the Marion Town Band.

For questions please contact the Parade Committee at 508-748-3515 or dhemphill@marionma.gov.

Mattapoisett Road Race 

The five mile Mattapoisett Road Race will start at 9 a.m. at Shipyard Park. Runners will make a large loop around Ned’s Point and return to Shipyard Park. Awards will be given to the top three overall winners in the male and female division, and the top three finishers in each division. 

Registration is $20 online at https://racewire.com/register.php?id=10597,and $25 in-person on July 3 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. or $30 on July 4 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. 

Race t-shirts must be picked up by the start of the race. Vintage t-shirts and other gear will be available at the race. 

Marion Fireworks

The Independence Day fireworks display is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m on July 5 at Silvershell Beach.

The Marion Fireworks Committee advises guests to bring a blanket and take advantage of the high tide at noon. Food trucks will be set up by 1 p.m. on the lawn near the bathhouse. The parking lot will close at 5 p.m. and reopen only for handicap accessible vehicles to park for the fireworks. 

Wood-fired pizza from Ahhh Roma, freshly popped kettlecorn from Cape Cod Kettle Corn, lobster rolls and chicken salad from Robert Wing Catering, ice cream, cotton candy, Italian ice from Plymouth Party, juices and cookies from Flour Girls, and fresh salads and fruits from Fieldstone Farm will be served as concessions.

The Sippican Band will start off the Fourth of July Concert sometime around dusk and food trucks will be on site until the end of the show. The Marion Concert Band will begin playing at Silvershell Beach at 8 p.m. and play the National Anthem, the National Emblem March, Star Spangled Spectacular, American Pageant, Our Glorious Land, highlights from Victory at Sea, The Homefront:  Musical Memories from World War II, and The Stars and Stripes Forever                               

As skies become darker, students from the Old Rochester AmbassadOR program will be selling glow sticks and novelties as part of their fundraising efforts.

The fireworks display may be postponed if there is rain or heavy fog. A rain date has been set for July 6.