Guest columnist Jennifer Page: Help keep South Amherst’s July 4 celebration alive
Published: 6/3/2021 12:35:02 PM
Until last year, the South Amherst July 4th celebration had been an annual event since the 1940s, when it started as a community gathering organized by South Church Amherst.
In recent years the event has been organized at the grassroots level, with no sponsors, no funding other than donations, and fully staffed by volunteers. The event had to be cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The beautiful thing about this event is that it is entirely kid-focused, with a tricycle parade around the South Amherst Common (bikes, scooters, strollers, and non-motorized floats are also welcomed), games like the three-legged race, potato-sack race, and penny scramble, and free watermelon, ice cream, and lemonade for all. Neighbors greet neighbors, kids reconnect with old friends and make new friends, and everyone has a lovely time and hopefully doesn’t get too sunburn