CCB Media Photo
Falmouth Heights Beach at dusk just before a scheduled fireworks show Saturday night
HYANNIS – Cape Cod celebrated the nation’s birthday Saturday with parades and fireworks across the region.
In Hyannis, thousands of people crowded along Main Street to watch the Town of Barnstable’s yearly parade that featured marching bands, classic cars, floats and even a display of Cape Cod Roller Derby Women.
Falmouth Heights Beach was packed with holiday revelers at dusk in advance of the town’s 35th annual fireworks show.
Earlier in the day Saturday, other parades took place in Barnstable Village, Chatham, Wellfleet, Orleans, Falmouth, Provincetown, Chatham and Edgartown.
In addition to fireworks in Hyannis and Falmouth, shows also took place in Onset, Provincetown and on Nantucket.
Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Office Wendy Northcross said the July Fourth holiday is critical to the local business community.
“Some of our businesses will live all year long on the money they make during July and August, so it’s really, really important to us that we have a good visitor season,” said Northcross.
The Cape’s environment is historically a strong draw for tourists. “We have over 500 miles of coastline, beautiful villages, and for the Fourth of July that means terrific community parades and activities and lots of fireworks,” Northcross said.
The Cape’s first Independence Day celebration of the holiday weekend took place Friday morning in Osterville with a parade from the Wianno Club that featured kids dressed in red, white and blue and several classic cars.
Nationwide, the American Automobile Association said 41.9 million Americans would travel 50 miles or more from home this weekend, the most since 2007.
“This Independence Day, more people will get in their cars, board airplanes, and take trains and cruise ships to celebrate our nation’s freedom with friends and family,” said Lloyd P. Albert, AAA Northeast Senior Vice President of Public and Government Affairs.
Of the 41.9 million projected to travel, more than 2.1 million are expected to come from New England.
