America may need a whole year to recover from Morris County’s 2016 Revolutionary Times birthday bash, a movable feast of toasts, music and pyrotechnics.
Orchestrated by the Morris County Tourism Bureau, with help from the Washington Association of New Jersey, the Morristown National Historical Park, the Morris County Park Commission, the town of Morristown, and many others, the weekend featured something for everyone.
“We’re having a blast!” said Sadeep Talati, who brought his family and the Dave family of Warren to enjoy an outdoor concert by the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps on the lawn of the Ford Mansion on Sunday.
The events began Saturday with a cocktail party at Morristown’s Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen, where a new tourism video was premiered for guests who included Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R. 11th Dist.) and Assemblyman Anthony M. Bucco (R-25th Dist.).
A large crowd came to the spacious grounds of the former Greystone Park State Psychiatric Hospital, now known as Central Park in Morris Plains, for an impressive fireworks show sponsored by the town of Morristown on Sunday night.
“This is the 240th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence,” Mayor Tim Dougherty told spectators.
“So I guess the only message is, enjoy the fireworks, thanks for coming out, and don’t forget what this stands for– this stands for our Independence. God bless America.”
A reading of the Declaration of Independence–on the Morristown Green where General George Washington once trod–was scheduled to cap the festivities on Monday at noon.