Community Corner

Middletown's Bombastic Fourth of July Pyrotechnics

A dramatic pause a few minutes into Middletown’s fireworks display at Harborpark Wednesday night had spectators flummoxed, asking: “is that it?”

The prolonged interruption was enough for some to break camp and head for the exit. “Budget cuts!” one spectator joked as he stalked away.

Whether the delay was part of the show or a glitch was not clear Wednesday. The red glare of the rockets eventually resumed, with a whistling and a bang, and a heart-thumping finale.

There was an eerie occurrence earlier in the evening when a great raft of uprooted trees, perhaps toppled during Tuesday’s tornado, drifted by in the river water, as the crowd on the shore watched in awe.

It was a perfect night for viewing the city's Fourth of July festival set against the serene backdrop of the Connecticut River.

Thousands converged downtown, clustered in groups on lawn chairs and blankets on the city hall green, scattered along the stretch of Harbor Park, and on lounge chairs on deKoven Drive while traffic on Route 9 whizzed by busily.

Some of the more stunning and novel fireworks included smiley faces set off in trios, fountains of purple and gold spouting fire in an inverted heart shape, curious red and gold descenders that gracefully bowed downward, and blasts in the shape of stars.

How did you like Middletown's Independence Day celebration?


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