Celebrating the 4th of July since 1897
The Riverton 4th of July Celebrations
Our Events
Our free community events begin in May and continue through the 4th of July to keep the festivities rolling throughout the year.
Our Team
Meet the team that makes all of the Riverton 4th of July celebrations possible. We couldn’t do it without them!
Our Town
The Borough of Riverton was established in 1851. The small Victorian town in southern New Jersey was founded as a waterfront getaway for ten wealthy Philadelphia families and is now home to nearly 3,000 wonderful residents.
History
It all began with a parade…
In 1897, Charles W. Davis and Albert J. Briggs decided Riverton needed a parade, which they called the Children’s Flag Parade. The Riverton Yacht Club sponsored the event, distributing flags to all participating kids and prizes in many categories. In those days, the parade ran backward, ending at the riverbank with speeches, concerts, games, and festivities.
You know the tall cane the Mayor carries in the parade? We had one in 1897, but the Parade Marshal carried it. Afterwards, they attached a silver band engraved with the Mayor’s name and number of participating children, a tradition that continues to this day. We’re on our third cane, now!
In 1915, the Riverton Fire Company took over sponsoring the parade and events, which had grown to included international swimming and diving contests, as well as a 10-mile swim to Philadelphia.
…and grew into so much more.
Over the years, more events were added, like the Boy Scouts’ flag-raising at Riverton School, a full day of music, and even a flying demonstration over the river! In 1936, a separate committee was established for children’s entertainment, and the Park Games were born with prizes and refreshments for participants and spectators alike. It wasn’t until 1950, though, that the parade was changed to the route we use today.
When the longtime chair of the park activities passed away in 1967, the Riverton 4th of July Committee took over the whole event program. Pony rides, a pet show, clowns, hot air balloons, and more were added to expand the fun to everyone.
And all along, the parade itself grew, with returning service members, red cross nurses, and local groups marching. The first firetruck - a Riverton vehicle, of course - entered the parade in 1950 to celebrate the town’s centennial.
Since those early years, the Riverton 4th of July Committee has tried to keep the same spirit of fun and festivity that started the parade in 1897. We’ve added the 5k and 1 mile runs, Treasure Day, the Great Joe Zaneski Downhill Race, the raft race, concert in the park, and cocktail party to create events that offer something for everyone, from kids to adults to anyone in between.
There are records of a Riverton 4th of July committee back at least as far as 1920, but likely go further to the beginning of it all. Throughout the years, a dedicated group of volunteers has always worked tirelessly to bring Riverton’s glorious 4th of July to life. From just a few people in the 20’s working on a parade to the full list of event coordinators and subcommittees we have now, the Riverton 4th of July shows no signs of stopping any time soon. In fact, we’re planning to make this year our best 4th of July ever. See you there!