Belated Fireworks Still Go Red, White & Boom

Excited to give their cousin Demi the same Fourth of July experience they’ve had since childhood, East Rock natives Payton and Jessica Smokes laid out a picnic blanket under the setting sun on Wednesday to watch the rain-delayed fireworks alongside her.

With food from the food trucks outside the field and big smiles, the sisters were excited for the show to start at Wilbur Cross High School’s Barbarito/Marone Field on Wednesday night, upholding a tradition they’ve done five times.

“I love that the community can enjoy something together in a space where they can be safe and not separated,” said Jessica.

Under the pink sunset over East Rock Park, hundreds gathered at the Wilbur Cross field to celebrate America’s birthday (many of the attendees arrived after the sun had set, crowding along a closed off section of Orange Street in the park as well as on the Wilbur Cross field). 

A day late because of the rain on the Fourth of July, spirits on the fifth and excitement about the firework show were still plenty high.

Outside the field, attendees could accompany their festive spirits with fried dough and classic barbeque and quinoa bowls and other eats sold by local food truck and stands. Children purchased light-up toys, waving around glowing wands and sporting glow-stick necklaces.

Settling down to watch the show, people gathered on the football field, the stands, and the plots of grass outside. Some brought chairs, others blankets, and all brought love and conversation.

“We love the fireworks, but the people watching is our favorite,” said Antonia Morris, an attendee from Guilford who brought along her husband, daughter, and son-in-law, all bringing along beach chairs to watch the show comfortably. ​“The setting of the show, and the space of East Rock, it’s all really nice,” said Morris’s daughter, Erin Beirnard.

Even New Haven Police Department officers enjoyed the food and familial atmosphere, conversing with attendees.

Jeong Yeon Lee, a sixth-year graduate student at Yale, joined two friends on the bleachers to watch the sunset before the show started Wednesday. ​“This is my third time coming to see the fireworks, but she’s usually the one who agitates for it,” he said, gesturing to fellow Yale graduate student Andie Berry.

Hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, Berry grew up surrounded by parades and fireworks when July 4th rolled around, so she said she always makes it a point to attend the festivities. ​“America’s 250th is creeping up on us in a few years, so I’m excited to see what elaborate fireworks displays and parades people have planned,” she added.

For Lee, his usual festivities were far more simple. ​“My family never placed much emphasis on the significance of July 4th, it was more of a rare day off for us and an excuse to eat good food that was bad for you,” he laughed.

Seamus Dwyer joined his friends at the fireworks for the first time, citing friendship as his favorite aspect of July 4th. ​“It’s all about togetherness, really,” he said, glancing at Lee and Berry with a smile.

A few minutes after 9:00 p.m., Mayor Justin Elicker took to the microphone to hype up the crowd, ending on an anti-climactic countdown to no avail of fireworks.

Despite the confusion, the crowd buzzed with excitement, until a single rocket trailed into the dwindling light above East Rock.

New Haveners watched in a quiet awe as bursts of red, white, blue, and gold bloomed in the sky before dissipating into a sparkling rain. After nearly 30 minutes of colorful explosions, the crowd roared louder than the fireworks themselves as the last few ember trails showered the mountain.