They got a head start on the holiday!
Red, white and blue filled the Deon L. Taylor Field on June 30 at Fort Hamilton’s annual Fourth of July Celebration.
More than 3,500 people pre-registered for the festivities, which included performances by local bands, a wide variety of food, and a fireworks display to end the fun with a bang.
Kids sang and danced to the music, adults relaxed, and it was a great evening overall for all who joined the celebration, according to one attendee.
“It was a great overall atmosphere,” said Bruce Hill. “A lot of families, service members, New Yorkers, and everyone was enjoying it.”
Unlike the years past, when big-name bands were brought in to perform, this was the second straight year that organizers invited local artists to perform.
These included R&B artists The Best Kept Secret, Latin Jazz band Heshima Moja, and Raine Torae performing Michael Jackson songs.
Another attendee, who came with a group from work, mentioned how nice it was for the community to come together and meet new people.
“It was very enjoyable just being at the Fort,” said Diane Ernest. “It was very patriotic — people were waving flags, sitting on the grass, and we made new friends”.
It may not have been the Fourth of July just yet, but patriotic locals certainly kicked things off with a bang, and enjoyed the annual celebration.