Merrimack gears up for explosive Independence Day celebrations

The town of Merrimack is gearing up for a festive Independence Day celebration, with a series of events planned for July 3rd and 4th. The town offices will be closed on July 4th in observance of the holiday.

The festivities kick off on July 3rd with the annual Patriot concert in Abbey Griffin Park from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM, hosted by the Meramec Concert Association. On July 4th, the day begins with the Sparkler 5K road race organized by the High School Road Runners Boosters Club at 8 AM, starting at Merrimack High School. Following the race, the Merrimack Rotary Club will hold its annual pancake breakfast at the high school from 8 AM to 11 AM, with tickets available at the door priced at $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and teens aged 13 to 17, and free for children under 3.

The highlight of the day will be the annual 4th of July parade, which will commence at 1 PM from the Common Shopping Center, proceeding down Daniel Webster Highway and concluding at the high school. In the evening, residents are invited to enjoy music and food trucks from 7 PM to 9:15 PM in front of the high school, leading up to the fireworks display scheduled for 9:15 PM.

In addition to the holiday events, the town council has scheduled regular meetings on July 25th, August 15th, and September 12th, all at 7 PM.

Residents should also be aware of upcoming lane closures on the F.E. Everett Turnpike between exits 8 and 10 due to a $22 million road widening and reconstruction project, which will take place Monday through Thursday from 6:30 PM to 6 AM. Motorists are advised to remain alert and follow posted signs in the work zone.

Lastly, a new water main project is set to begin in mid-July, affecting approximately 22 residents in Merrimack. The project will involve construction staging near the Pearson Road pump station and is expected to last a couple of months, depending on conditions encountered during the work.