July 4-5 Festivities Anchor America 250 Events in Lyme and Old Lyme

LYME/OLD LYME, CT – With the 250th anniversary of American independence just over a week away, Lyme and Old Lyme have no shortage of events honoring the nation’s founding, local Revolutionary-era history and American identity. 

On Saturday, July 4 in Lyme, the day begins at 10 a.m. with the Fourth of July Parade, which travels down Cove Road near Camp Claire, crosses Route 156 and ends at the Lyme Grange, 2 Sterling City Road. A free community barbecue will follow at the Grange until noon with food, refreshments, live music and games hosted by the Lyme Recreation Commission.

Visitors can drop by the Lyme Public Hall, 249 Hamburg Road, from 10 a.m. to noon to see exhibits on local history. At 11:30 a.m., the Lyme Veterans Memorial Committee will gather outside the Grange building for a ceremony celebrating the nation’s founding. 

A community sing-a-long will be held at the First Congregational Church of Lyme, 1 Sterling City Road, from noon to 2 p.m.

The celebration continues with a commemorative tree planting led by the Lyme Garden Club at 2 p.m. on the Town Green, 480 Hamburg Road, which will include a reading of the Declaration of Independence. 

The day concludes with a Revolutionary War-era music program at the Lyme Public Library, 482 Hamburg Road, performed by musician and historian Richard Donohue at 2:30 p.m.

Route 156 will be closed briefly during the parade, with parking available at the Lyme Congregational Church and the Hamburg Fairgrounds.

Old Lyme’s Independence Day programming includes several town-wide observances on July 4, followed by a Town Picnic on Sunday, July 5.

On July 4, events include the Sound View parade at 10 a.m., a boat parade at Rogers Lake in the area of Hains Park and the reading of a town proclamation at 1:45 p.m. at Old Lyme Town Hall, 52 Lyme St.

On July 5, the Town of Old Lyme will host its America 250 Community Picnic from noon to 4 p.m. at Town Woods Park. The event will feature live music by Nightshift, children’s activities, a pie-eating contest, a sack race and the unveiling of Old Lyme’s community quilt created as part of the town’s America 250 celebration.

Residents are encouraged to bring their own picnic lunches, tables and chairs. Ribbon awards will be given for the most festive tablescapes in categories including Most Patriotic, Most Historic, Beach-Theme Picnic, Park-Theme Picnic and Most Creative. Judging is expected to take place at 1 p.m.

Food will also be available for purchase from the Lyme–Old Lyme Lions Club.

The rain-or-shine event is open to all Old Lyme residents, including seasonal residents. Pets and open flames are not permitted.

More information is available at exploreoldlyme.com/america250events and ExploreOldLyme.com/picnic.

Additional Events

• June 27: Patchwork: Connecticut Artists Consider 250 opens at the Florence Griswold Museum (through Nov. 8)
• June 29: Old Lyme Historical Society lecture, Revolution in the Lymes, 7 p.m. 
• July 1: Lymes’ Senior Center lecture, Homes of the Founding Fathers, 1 p.m. 
• July 2: Opening of George! by Jac Lahav at The Cooley Gallery; Performance of What a Glorious Crash They Made: Musick of Connecticut’s Revolution by Richard Franklin Donohue at the Old Lyme Historical Society, 7 p.m. 
• July 6: Book discussion on Rise to Rebellion: A Novel of the American Revolution by Jeff Shaara at the Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, 6:30 p.m. 
• July 8: Public reading of the Declaration of Independence at Old Lyme Town Hall, 4 p.m. 
• July 9: Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau hosts a showing of 1776 the musical at the Ivoryton Playhouse, 6 p.m. 
• July 16: Walking tour titled After the Revolution: Reflections at Duck River at Duck River Cemetery, 4 p.m.