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New Canaan’s Fourth of July fireworks, set for this Saturday at Waveny, are getting two changes this year, officials say: a relocated “launch site” meant to ease post-show traffic, and a new Sensory Zone for attendees sensitive to the noise.
Parks & Recreation Commission member David Shea said organizers are “very happy with the improvements we’re doing, which is moving the location of the fireworks so that the South Lapham Road egress is going to be open, so people getting out will be faster.
The town is also rolling out a new traffic notification system tied to this year’s entrance passes, he said,” Shea told fellow members of the appointed body during their June 10 meeting at Lapham Center.
“The next [new feature] is the usage of the notification system, where all entrance passes sold will have a QR code on them to receive traffic notifications,” Shea said. The feature is designed to help people know if the exit gates are closed, he said.
Also new this year is a “Sensory Zone,” a dedicated tent on the soccer fields off Farm Road, set up to give attendees sensitive to the fireworks’ noise a quieter place to watch the show. The space is being organized in partnership with Inclusive Together, a New Canaan-based nonprofit focused on inclusion and support for people with disabilities, including neurodivergent individuals and their families. The organization was founded by Lauren Tarzia, a speech-language pathologist who started it after her own son was diagnosed with autism.
“We’re very happy to be working with Inclusive Together to open up the Farm Road soccer fields for people who are sensitive to noise but still want to participate in this great family event,” Shea said. “We’re all pulling together, and we’re formalizing it by giving them lights, garbage cans and a porta-potty, it’s going to be terrific.”
The fireworks celebration is not a town-funded event, and runs entirely on pass sales and donations. Passes cost $40 through July 2 and $50 on the day of the event. They can be purchased online through July 2, in person at the Parks & Recreation Department in Waveny House or at Walter Stewart’s Market, or on July 4 itself at the Steve Benko Pool lot from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
One pass is required per car or per walking group, and all passes are non-refundable.
The fireworks are one of two signature events in New Canaan’s “America250” celebration, a town-wide series of events running June through November to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary, alongside the NC250 Parade that was held June 27.
A full calendar of America250 New Canaan events is available here.