Bristol, Vermont has been celebrating the Fourth of July longer than most American towns have existed. The celebration traces its roots to 1785 — just nine years after the Declaration of Independence was signed — making it the oldest continuously running Fourth of July celebration in Vermont. If you want to understand what small-town Independence Day looks like at its most authentic, Bristol is the place.
240+ Years of July 4th in Bristol
On July 4, 1785, Reverend Henry Wight of the First Congregational Church — a veteran of the Revolutionary War himself — stood before the people of Bristol and read the Declaration of Independence aloud in public. That was the first Patriotic Exercises. It has not stopped since.
The parade is believed to have grown from the procession of community members walking together to those early Patriotic Exercises. By the early 1800s, what had been a solemn procession had evolved into a full parade — and the Military, Civic and Firemen's Parade has run every year since. Two and a half centuries of Bristol residents have lined the same streets.
The celebration officially begins on Flag Day, June 14th, and builds through late June and early July to the parade on the 4th itself.
The Parade
The parade on July 4th morning is 2.5 miles long and draws crowds from across Addison County. It's officially called the Military, Civic and Firemen's Parade — color guards, fire trucks, marching bands, civic organizations, and community floats move through Bristol's streets with the Grand Marshal riding in a historic horse-drawn coach.
The parade steps off at 10:30am. Main Street and West Street fill up early — stake out a spot by 10am if you want a good view. Bring lawn chairs. Bring kids. It's exactly what a July 4th parade should be.
The Great Bristol Outhouse Race
Before the parade, at 9am on West Street, comes one of Vermont's most beloved and inexplicable traditions: the Great Bristol Outhouse Race.
Teams build outhouse frames — decorated, costumed, named — and race them down the street in front of a crowd that shows up specifically for this. The race has been running since 1980. Nobody quite knows how it started. It's just Bristol.
If you've never seen it, go. It is genuinely, defiantly weird in the best possible Vermont way, and the crowd energy before the parade officially starts makes it one of the highlights of the whole day.
2026 Bristol July 4th Schedule
The 2026 celebration runs from mid-June through July 4th. Here's the full schedule:
Wednesday, June 17 — Chicken BBQ in the Park
The summer kickoff. Walkup-style chicken BBQ on the Bristol Town Green starting at 5pm — it runs until sold out, so don't wait too long. This is a Bristol tradition in its own right and reliably draws a crowd on a June evening.
Friday, July 3 — Festivities at Bristol Rec Park · 6–10pm
The evening before the 4th opens up at the Bristol Rec Field with vendors, live music, games, and a dunk tank. Fireworks follow at dusk from Mount Abraham Union High School. The July 3rd fireworks show is one of the biggest in Addison County and well worth making the trip for on its own.
Saturday, July 4 — Full Day Schedule
- 7:30am — 5K Road Race · Starts at Mt. Abraham Union High School, runs through scenic Bristol
- 9:00am — The Great Bristol Outhouse Race · West Street — don't miss it
- 10:30am — The Parade · 2.5-mile Military, Civic and Firemen's Parade through downtown Bristol
- After the parade · Vendors and entertainment on the Town Green
Full event details and any updates at bristolvt4thofjuly.com.
Getting There & Where to Eat
Bristol is about 30 minutes south of Burlington on Route 116, and 15 minutes north of Middlebury. Downtown parking fills up fast on the 4th — arrive early or park on residential side streets and walk in.
After the parade, the Town Green and Main Street come alive with vendors and food. For a sit-down meal, Bobcat Cafe & Brewery and South Mountain Tavern are the natural anchors — the Bobcat brews its own beer and serves hearty comfort food; the SMT has pub food and a laid-back atmosphere that fits a long July afternoon. Check the full Bristol dining guide for all eight local restaurants.
If you're making a weekend of it, pair the July 4th events with a hike up Deer Leap Mountain on July 3rd — the views over the valley from the summit are hard to beat any time of year, and the combination of a mountain hike and a fireworks show makes for a perfect Vermont summer day.
Visiting Bristol for the 4th? Browse local businesses and plan your trip.
