This year’s all-volunteer organized Pottstown GoFourth! Independence Day celebration will help mark the opening of Montgomery County Community College’s Challenger Learning Center which will offer regional students and teachers immersive science learning opportunities through in-person space exploration simulations, virtual teamwork-focused “missions,” and other hands-on classroom adventures.

With a theme of “Space: Boldly Going Where No Town Has Gone Before,”  GoFourth! Street Fest, Monday, July 4, will feature fantastic food, live music, a Kids Fun Zone, and a spectacular, free fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. in Memorial Park.

The out of this world day will begin with the Rotary Club of Pottstown July 4 parade on High Street from Adams to York, beginning at 10:15 a.m.

Street Fest will get underway at 11:00 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m. Stroll High Street from Charlotte to York to enjoy live music, local restaurant fare and popular food trucks, Pottstown’s brew pubs and beer gardens, artisans and other vendors, nonprofit information exhibits, and children’s activities.

Charlotte Street will be the Kids Fun Zone sponsored by ROG Orthodontics, with face painting; games; and entertainment including the ever-popular Judy Tudy the Clown, a rain gutter regatta, and living history presented by the Shire of Hartshorn-dale, including reenactments, medieval history, dance, costumes, and combat.

More live entertainment sponsored by VideoRay, LLC will be featured at Smith Family Plaza in the 100 Block of High Street. Bands on tap include Brian Fitzy (sponsored by Gofus Memorials, Inc.), the Hannah Violet Trio, Hector Rosado y Orchestra, and Modern Luxe – all to be enjoyed along with a Sly Fox Beer Garden and more food trucks. A number of High Street restaurants also will be open to customers.

The Rotary Duck Race Drawing will take place at 3 p.m. at High and Hanover streets. This event raises money for vital area nonprofit organizations.

The fireworks pre-show party will kick off at 5 p.m. in Memorial Park, 75 W. King St., featuring food trucks, a Sly Fox Beer Garden, Inflatable “rides” for kids, and DJ Q ball.

The pyrotechnics, presented by International Fireworks and sponsored by Precision Polymer Products, Inc., will begin at 9:30 p.m.

Parking will be available on the streets where appropriate (please be considerate of our Borough neighbors) and in the Borough of Pottstown lots at South Hanover Street near the train tracks, the lots at High and Evans Street, and the lot on King Street between Hanover and Penn streets.

In addition, free parking will be available on the parking lot at Montgomery County Community College’s South Hall, 101 College Drive. Premium fireworks parking passes will be available, but parking tickets are required; they will go on sale in mid-May.

The Colebrookdale Railroad Fireworks Express will depart at 7 p.m. from the Boyertown station, arriving in plenty of time for the show. Tickets are available at www.colebrookdalerailroad.com.

Sponsorships are still available as planners work to meet significant costs and make this genuine Pottstown community celebration extraordinary: click here. Volunteers also are needed: click here.  

Vendors and nonprofits who would like to set up a stand or table should contact Darlene Bainbridge at PG4Vendors@gmail.com. Vendor registration deadline is June 10, 2022.

Pottstown GoFourth! recognizes these valued top-level sponsors to date:  Precision Polymer Products, Inc.; VideoRay, LLC. (Entertainment Sponsor); and ROG Orthodontics (Kids Zone).

Donations toward this community event and the Rotary Club of Pottstown Parade are welcomed (and donors will be recognized in the Pottstown Mercury). Please visit here or send a check made out to Pottstown GoFourth, Inc., to P.O. Box 1362, Pottstown, PA  19464. Donation boxes also will be placed throughout the Borough.

Website visitors also can purchase Pottstown GoFourth! shirts and other merchandise, see photo albums, and find other information about this event.

“Pottstown really is ‘boldly going where no town has gone before’ in terms of finding innovative new development, taking advantage of our riverfront location and Memorial Park,  and putting on outstanding community-centered events,” says Amy Wolf, co-chair of Pottstown Go Fourth! “Support for Pottstown GoFourth and the Street Fest concept has been very enthusiastic. We hope people continue to donate so it can be a true celebration for the town, as it has since 2017, except for 2020 when Covid prevented us from gathering.” 

Amy Francis, co-chair, emphasized the downtown location was a hit last year, in part because it helped to recognize and drive traffic to Pottstown’s growing number of small businesses.

“Our Pottstown businesses have been so resilient and creative, and the vibe downtown keeps getting better and better,” Francis said. “Street Fest and our other July 4 activities will spotlight Pottstown’s ongoing revitalization and allow Borough families and visitors alike to celebrate our beautiful hometown.”

_________