A large green puppet lets freedom ring on State Street. Photo by John Lazenby.
MONTPELIER — Sunshine and 85-degree weather backdropped a day filled with cheers, as a large crowd gathered for Montpelier’s annual July 3 celebration of Independence Day.
This year’s theme, in keeping with the semiquincentennial anniversary of the U.S., was “250 Together!” An afternoon of family games on the Statehouse lawn and the Montpelier Mile (see page 2 for race results) preceded a parade filled with politicians, vintage cars, a few squirt guns, bubbles, and the usual ruckus and fanfare.
Blues musicians Johnny Rawls and Dave Keller performed while festivalgoers waited in long lines for tacos, ice cream, crepes, burgers, shaved ice, and other delicacies. The evening ended with a literal bang, fireworks filling the sky with light, and the air with an acrid smoky smell.
Photos below are by John Lazenby and Cassandra Hemenway. To see more of Lazenby’s July 3 photos, go here. To see photos and results of the Montpelier Mile, see our story here.
Red white and blue parade spectators. Photo by John Lazenby.City Manager Kelly McNicholas Kury and Mayor Marc Gwinn carried the Montpelier banner up State Street.Photo by John Lazenby.Jack Morse, 4, waves from a Montpelier Fire Department truck with Liberty Truedson, center, and her friend Sophia Burrell, both 8, during Montpelier’s July 3 Independence Day parade. Jack is the son of Montpelier Fire Lt. Chad Morse. Liberty is the daughter of Montpelier fire fighter/paramedic Marc Truedson, who was driving the truck. Photo by John Lazenby. VPIRG activists showed up in force. Holding the banner, from left: Jules Caserta, Katie Erbe, and Miles Pahl. The bikers behind them, from left, are Devon Ellicock, Robert Demeo, Anna Gibson, and Alexis Drown. Photo by Cassandra Hemenway.A statement about housing for Vermonters. Photo by John Lazenby.US Sen. Bernie Sanders waves to the crowds on State Street.Photo by John Lazenby. Issac DiPina of the Providence Drum Troupe keeps the beat. Photo by Cassandra Hemenway. Free Palestine activists turned out.Photo by Cassandra Hemenway.Marchers carried Constitutional signs on State Street. Marchers carried Constitutional signs on State Street. Photo by John Lazenby.USS Montpelier submarine crew member during the 2026 July 4th parade (always held July 3) in Montpelier. Photo by John Lazenby.during the 2026 July 4th parade (always held July 3) in Montpelier, VT, USA.A sign refers to perhaps the most famous line in the Declaration of Independence. Photo by John Lazenby.during the 2026 July 4th parade (always held July 3) in Montpelier, VT, USA.Marcher with a sign in support of Palestine. Photo by John Lazenby.Folks on the Charlie-O’s float cooled the crowd with squirt guns. Photo by Cassandra Hemenway.The light catches a white bird puppet during Montpelier’s Independence Day celebration on July 3, 2026. Photo by Cassandra Hemenway.After the parade. Photo by Cassandra Hemenway.Festival-goers waited about an hour in line for this cool treat. Photo by Cassandra Hemenway.Showing off their henna, offered by one of the vendors surrounding the Statehouse lawn on July 3, 2026. Photo by Cassandra Hemenway.A fan films Jonny Rawls and Dave Keller onstage in front of the Statehouse. Photo by Cassandra Hemenway.Dave Keller hopped offstage to vibe with his fans. Photo by Cassandra Hemenway.Blues musicians Johnny Rawls, right and Montpelier-based Dave Keller, left, played until dark, just before the fireworks on July 3, 2006. Photo by Cassandra Hemenway.
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