By Riley Fontana
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Walpole’s annual “Night Before the Fourth'' celebration started with its iconic fire truck parade. This marked Walpole's 63rd year of hosting the parade. The parade attracts people from all over, lining Common St. The parade featured new and historic fire trucks from Walpole along with modern trucks from several towns including Medfield, Millis, Charlton, Rehoboth, and even Sequatchie County Tennessee. The parade of firetrucks, both current and antique, as well as the police vehicles, dazzled the younger guests with the sirens blaring. The Massachusetts Military Vehicle Collectors Club showed off some of their military trucks for all attendees to see, providing a variety of vehicles that passed through the parade route.
After the parade on the fields behind Blackburn Hall was a continuation of the celebration before the fireworks. This included vendors such as Walpole Police and Fire and the Walpole Lions.
They were selling food, drinks, and gear to support their causes. Inside Blackburn was New England’s premier oldies band Back In Time. They were playing all the classic hits, drawing a crowd into the building to continue the celebration. Guests danced and sang along to the music, enjoying all of the festivities that the evening had brought to enjoy.
After the conclusion of the annual parade and celebration inside of Blackburn, it was the moment that all the guests had been waiting for: the annual fireworks display!
Walpole has been hosting its firework show for over 50 years and drawing in quite the crowd, and this year was no different. With the show lighting off at 9:30 the streets were lined with cars all day. The fireworks were launched off from Morgan Field near the library, giving everyone in the center a fantastic view. Walpole’s “Night Before the Fourth” is one of their most beloved traditions by locals, and they are looking forward to next year's event.
