Hampton Beach Fourth of July 2024: Here is the lineup for fireworks, music and more
HAMPTON — Beach business owners are gearing up for a bustling Fourth of July week with two firework shows and free nightly entertainment on the Seashell Stage.
This year, the Fourth lands on a Thursday, which Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce President John Nyhan said should make for an extended holiday weekend. He said the weather will make or break the week, and the beach cannot afford rain on Thursday or the weekend.
“We need to really change the weather forecast from last year to make it more sunny this year,” Nyhan said.
Hampton Beach Village District Commissioner Chuck Rage said he expects a busy Fourth of July week. The week will feature live music on the Seashell Stage as well as bands playing in restaurants and three concerts at the Casino Ballroom.
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Fourth of July weekend to include two fireworks show
Hampton Beach will have two firework displays the week of the Fourth of July – first on July 3 for the regularly scheduled weekly Wednesday show, then again on the Fourth of July. A rain date for the Thursday show is Friday, July 5.
The fireworks were canceled on Memorial Day when a nest of endangered piping plovers was found near K Street.
Fish and Game Biologist Brendan Clifford said the nest has since been lost.
“We don’t know exactly why,” Clifford said. “Could have been a predator, could have been human.”
Clifford said the pair tried to nest again, but ultimately abandoned the spot. Fireworks resumed on June 19 for the busy Juneteenth holiday crowd.
Rage said the Village District is using quieter fireworks to help accommodate the birds, of which Clifford said there are only 18 successfully nesting pairs in the state.
“We’re not doing the loud bangs, but we’re doing the big flashing displays,” Rage said. They’re not having any of the real loud booms which tend to disrupt the animals.”
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Live music all week at Hampton Beach
Hampton Beach will feature live music from local performers to nationally touring acts during the week of the Fourth of July.
The Village District’s lineup of music on the Seashell Stage kicks off July 2 with the 39th Army Band, followed by the country performer Annie Brobst on July 4. Prior to the country show, there will be free line dancing lessons near the stage.
July 5 will feature the group Down by 10, which plays a variety of rock and roll hits, followed on July 6 with Frank Viele, who performs original songs around the Northeast. Sunday, July 7, wraps the weekend up with the party band Overtone, which plays top 40 hits with some rock songs.
“We are trying to get some more rock and roll down there,” Village District Marketing Director Lisa Martineau said.
Across the street from Seashell Stage, the popular jam band Umphrey’s McGee plays at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Friday, July 5. Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime takes the Casino stage July 6, followed by Priscilla Block on July 7.
Along the beach, restaurants like McGuirk’s Ocean View, the Boardwalk Café, the Sea Ketch, and the L Street Tavern will also offer live music.
Wally’s Pub will feature nightly music, including the Van Halen tribute band Completely Unchained on July 5. Singer-songwriter Lauren Watkins will be at Wally’s on July 7, while that same night 12/OC will play its sister venue, Bernie’s Beach Bar, which also has music nightly.
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New restaurants open for the Fourth of July weekend
Hampton’s restaurant owners are eager for a busy beach on the Fourth of July. Some are open at the beach for the first time this summer.
Swell Oyster Company opened the Shuck Shack on D Street with a 50-seat patio serving food from a raw bar as well as tacos, beer and wine. Co-owner Russ Hilliard said the summer has been busy since they opened in May. He said the Shack changed its happy hour from 3 to 5 p.m. to include buck-a-shuck, previously charging $2 shucks.
“People want 'buck a shuck,' so let’s get the people what they want,” Hilliard said.
At the Tideside Social Club, located on the southern corner of Ocean Boulevard and Ashworth Avenue, owner Joey McCarran hopes to open his new restaurant for Fourth of July week. He is waiting on permitting as he prepares to launch his menu, which includes meat from Tuckaway Tavern and lobster caught in the Gulf of Maine.
McCarran, who also owns the farm Littlewild in Haverhill, Massachusetts, said he will use his own vegetables for a farm-to-table experience. He said the food would be fresh with only two items fried on the menu – French fries and onion rings.
“We’re still Hampton Beach, still a little rock and roll, but definitely elevating the conversation,” McCarran said.
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Hotel room and cottage rentals are still available
Those who rent hotel rooms and cottages say they are busy but still have vacancies to fill. Rage, who owns the Pelham Resort, said he’s nearly booked, but hotels on the beach have seen some people wait to book their vacation.
“There’s still openings,” Rage said. “If you’re flexible, you’ll be able to get a booking.”
Bob Preston, who rents cottages across the beach to families a week at a time, said he still has properties available as well.
Preston believes his vacancies will be filled if the weather is good. Rage said good weather will also mean more day-trippers.
“My favorite line from the weatherman is, ‘It’s hot, hazy and humid, and the only relief is at the beach,’” Rage said. “That’s always good for business.”
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Hampton Beach NH Fourth of July 2024: Fireworks, music and more
