A Look At Westport's Biggest Party As The July 4th Holiday Winds Down
July 4th is a very special time in the town of Westport. Not everyone in town was at Compo Beach on Wednesday, but it almost seemed that way as thousands began to arrive as early as 6:00AM (or earlier, perhaps) to stake out their turf with a careful arrangement of lawn and beach chairs and some fairly large sized tables where their carefully curated foods and beverages would be set.
Compo Beach looking east alongside Soundview Dr. was filled with celebrants and many strolled Soundview visiting with friend and neighbors as they awaited the big moment when the first shell s would be fired (see below Fireworks Spectacular)
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The party at Bob's Beach Shack on Soundview was in full swing where friends gathered to enjoy the day. Nearby, a newbie was introduced to the essential sport of beer pong. Compo lifeguards strolled along after their shift, and new Chief of the Westport Police Department David Farrell worked his first shift as Chief, along with Deputy Chief Ryan Paulsson.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
here were a few empty chairs here and there, waiting for the rest of the groups of friends to gather.
For the last few years this group of friends grabs this prime spot on South Beach and decorates their tent with the Stars & Stripes.
Pictured here are: Lauren LoFrisco, Andrew Montgomery, Bethany Kapadia, Amanda Montgomery, Anne Izzi, Carl Weiss, Richard Bernard, Eric Wuchiski, Ketan Kapadia, Kevin Paradis, Lisa Pinney-Keusch, Andy Levi, Cheryl Driscol, Anyhony LoFrisco.
The mood throughout the day was one of excitement and joy as folks took selfies, recorded their kids having a blast. These four friends took up residence on the landmark Compo Beach cannons where they were happy to spend a bit of their day together. Others raised a glass to toast the day while others enjoyed a bit of sports with the Melissa & Dog barge in the harbor, surrounded by pleasure craft where more party goers found their happy place.
As the sun set the lighted toys and sparklers created a glow up and down the beach as the start of the show drew near.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
With all the wonderful foods from one end of Compo Beach to another, the lines at Hook'D on the Sound were short. At right, Dan Woog captured an image for 06880 of former first selectmanJim Marpe, Jen Tooker, Charlie Haberstroh and RTM member Jimmy Izzo.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The barge is ready to go and is surrounded by boaters waiting for the show to begin.
Happy 249th Birthday America!
Photo by J.C. Martin and Story By America’s Founding Fathers For WestportLocalPress.com
How Old Is America? The Simple Answer:
The simple answer is that as of the July 4, 2025, the United States is 249 years old. The United States is 249-years-old because the Declaration of Independence was ratified by the US Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. The passing of the Declaration of Independence meant that the thirteen original British colonies in North America ceased to be colonies and officially (at least according to them) became a sovereign nation.
Today is a great day for parties, barbecues, etc. It is also a great day to read the Declaration Of Independence.
But there is more to it than that.
On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to declare independence. Two days later, it ratified the text of the Declaration. John Dunlap, official printer to Congress, worked through the night to set the Declaration in type and print approximately 200 copies.
The written Declaration of Independence was dated July 4th but wasn't actually signed until August 2nd. Fifty-six delegates eventually signed the document, although all were not present on that day in August. Two of the Declaration's signers died 50 years to the day (July 4, 1826) after the document was adopted. Both were presidents -- Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. They died within hours of each other. More can be found on the National Archives Website.
Below is a start and the link to the full Declaration, one of the greatest documents ever written by man.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
To those who love fireworks and picnics but also have a desire to acknowledge and pay tribute to those who created the greatest nation in the history of the world, Morgan Freeman introduces some of the most famous celebrities in the world who read the document that change the course of history for us all.
We suggest it is worth viewing. It is a less than 15 minute video. If you do not have 15 minutes to watch in its entirety, the reading by Michael Douglas, Kathy Bates, Whoppi Goldberg, Edward Norton, Winona Ryder, Renee Zellweger and others begins at 4:30 into the video and is about 5 minutes.
Click the YouTube link below:
We Hold These Truths To Be Self Evident
And for the boomers and others who are well familiar with this voice, another reading: Senator John F. Kennedy Reading Declaration of Independence, 4 July 1957
Also, here is the link to the text of the entire Declaration: The Declaration Of Independence
Thousands Enjoy Westport PAL And Melissa & Doug's July 4th Fireworks Spectacular
Westport dodged the rain storms forecast for the week and on Wednesday night there were clear skies and a warm, sunny day making this years July 4th fireworks simply spectacular.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Fireworks by Gucci, America's first family of pyrotechnics and holders of the Guinness World Record for the "Largest Fireworks Display" ever recorded gave Compo Beach the kind of thrilling show we have come to expect every July 4th. They know how to light up the night sky, having done so worldwide for more than 150 years.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
in 1979, the Grucci's became the first American family to win the Gold Medal for the United States at the annual Monte Carlo International Fireworks Competition. Headquartered in Bellport New York, they have global reach with regional offices in Las Vegas, Nevada, Radford, Virginia. Oahu, Hawaii, Doha, Qatar, Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Liuyang City, Hunan Province, China.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The sights and sounds were a thrill for the thousands who arrived at Compo Beach throughout the day, with some queuing up early in the morning to grab their favorite spot for the friends and family to gather.
The barge, with the very familiar Melissa & Doug logo in lights was moved into position with pleasure craft and a Westport PD Marine division vessel on patrol.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
New Record Set For The 2025 Great Duck Race
A Westport Fireman operates the high pressure hose to fill the flume upon which the thousands of ducks will travel as they compete for the $5,000.00 first prize and the remainder totaling another $5,000.00.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Each year the Westport Sunrise Rotary holds an event to raise much needed funds for a great many charitable and non profit organizations know as The Great Duck Race. This year "Sunny" the Duck's small army of dedicated volunteers worked tirelessly to bring this cherished Westport tradition to life once again at Jesup Green alongside the Saugatuck river.
The event is held each year with jUNe Day, Westport’s celebration of the United Nations which is also made possible by the volunteers who assist in the jUNe Day event. There was also support by the Westport Fire Department, the Westport Police Department and the Westport Library. This year, thanks to the generosity of Westport families, The Great Duck Race was able to generate more than $100,000 in proceeds from the record number of 3,233 tickets sold. Each ticket entitles the purchaser to their little rubber duck which races down the flume toward the finish line in a thrilling competition to see which ones will grab some of the $10,000 in prize money.
Hundreds of spectators began lining the “race course” well in advance of the big moment in order to get a great view as the ducks approach the finish line, with as many as 1,500 and 2,000 coming to enjoy the festivities.
The A.J. Penna front loader made it’s way to the start line to pour the thousands of ducks into the holding pond and the bucket is empty they are released on their way to “victory lane” as it were.
Once all the ducks are in their positions, the “starting gate” is raised and off they go!
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Under he watchful eye of Second Selectwoman Andrea Moore and the volunteers the ducks approach the entry port “finish line” as they jockey for position.
The first place finisher, the $5,000 lucky duckie is plucked from its position and handed to the volunteers who carefully place in numbered bags all the ducks in order of finish. In a testament to the generosity of our neighbors, as in years past, some of the winners donated all of their prize money back to the Sunrise Rotary in order to further help the charities they support.
Prize winners were: Sharon Rychilk, 1st place, $5,000, and Bruce Fritz, 2nd place, $1,000
Other winning ducks brought $500 in prize money to Ellen Swisher, Brian Stern, Angelo Termine , Gimbels Pon, Ian Gorman, Courtney Mullen, Tim Kelly and Sylvia Galambos.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
After the conclusion of the race, spectators enjoyed the other activities including the holding up the world photo op.
There was plenty of work to be done by the volunteers from last minute adjustments to the flume to handling the paperwork for ticket purchasers.
Many generous sponsors made this event possible and provided fun activities for families.
Gold Level Sponsors: Kohler, Hartford Healthcare, Rumi Mind Health, AJ Penna & Son, Gault Family Companies and The Clubhouse Westport offered activities like Duck Toss, Pin Making, Nerdy Derby, Sand Creations, as well as Health Screenings
Silver Level Sponsors: Webster Bank, Volvo, Landtech, New Perspective Cabinetry & Design, Nomade Restaurant
Bronze Level Sponsors: Cohen and Wolf, Tanner White Architects, FLB Law, JMKA Architects, Village Pediatrics, SIR Development, Leifer Properties, Bluewater Home Builders, MarshMcLennan Agency, Yvonne Sentura & Ron Henkoff, Jim Ezzes, Westport National Bank, Wells Fargo Advisors, Berchem Moses, Liz & Jim Wong, Ring’s End, Fairfield Country Day School, BOOM Photo Booth
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Sunrise Rotary will distribute funds from their 2025 events to charities in 2026. They recently distributed the 2024 funds (in May 2025) and the list of charities we have supported can be see here: https://westportsunriserotary.org/supported-charities.
The grant applications are available later in the year, with the deadline typically in late January. Their Charitable Giving Committee then works on the applications and the approval process takes a few months. So we have not earmarked any of the funds raised - each year there is a process of grant applications and awards. They also set aside a small percentage to partner with Rotary Clubs around the world to help in communities in other countries.
One of the ducks (above) jumped out to an early lead reportedly riding and tumbling in a wave. We cannot say if that duck managed to hold on to the lead.
For some of the children at the Great Duck Race their favorite part was at the conclusion when they were able to jump into the flume and help the volunteers gather up the thousands of ducks.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.