Much of Bristol's Fourth is moving to August*

*Pending state guidelines, Bristol is planning its carnival, concerts and fireworks for later this summer

By Christy Nadalin
Posted 6/11/20

With Rhode Islanders continuing to (mostly) follow rules and regulations designed to check the spread of Covid-19, state data shows numbers are continuing to trend in a positive direction. While its …

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Much of Bristol's Fourth is moving to August*

*Pending state guidelines, Bristol is planning its carnival, concerts and fireworks for later this summer

Posted

With Rhode Islanders continuing to (mostly) follow rules and regulations designed to check the spread of Covid-19, state data shows numbers are continuing to trend in a positive direction. While its clear this year’s Fourth of July celebration is not going to look anything like last year’s, the Bristol Fourth of July Committee just released a concert schedule that, if all continues to go well, will bring some July 4th joy to Bristol, albeit a few weeks late.

General Chairman Michelle Martins notes that nothing is really set in stone until it happens; and the committee will adapt and change as changing conditions dictate. But if all goes well, the last week of August is going to feel a lot like a nearly-normal last week in June.

First, they are planning for a carnival on the Town Common the week of Aug. 23 to 30.

Secondly, they are planning fireworks. They are scheduled for the night of Saturday, Aug. 29, with a rain date of Aug. 30.

Rules governing social distancing at these events will be established closer to the date, based on existing government guidance at the time.

“If we have to section off the park and limit numbers in each section, the concert committee will do what’s needed,” said Ms. Martins. The committee is looking forward to hearing what the state’s Phase 3 regulations will be, probably the first week of July. From there, they will have a better idea of what will be permitted by the end of the summer. For now, they are working off this later-summer framework.

“It’s a skeleton,” Ms. Martins said. “We will do what we can do, as conditions and regulations allow.”

If all goes well, this is what the “July 4th” concert schedule will look like:

  • Sunday, Aug. 23: Emily Luther, Detroit Breakdown
  • Monday, Aug. 24: Rendition, The Blue F.O.’s
  • Tuesday, Aug. 25: Charle Marie, Colby James
  • Wednesday, Aug 26: The Accused, DMB Project
  • Thursday, Aug. 27: Jon Tyler, R.I. National Guard 88th Army Band
  • Friday, Aug, 28: Bar Fly, Crushed Velvet
  • Saturday, Aug. 29: Airplay, Dirty Deeds
  • Sunday, Aug. 30: Rhode Island Philharmonic

For more information and updates as they develop, visit www.fourthofjulybristolri.com.

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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.