Fireworks, flags and racing turtles highlight Freetown's Fourth of July celebration

“If you’ haven’t been to our fireworks, you're missing big time the world famous Freetown racing turtles,” Chair of Freetown’s Parade & Fireworks Committee Judy Gregory said.

It’s Christmas in July.

For Freetown, though, it’s just another Fourth of July celebration.

Instead of snowflakes, there are fireworks.

Replace holiday decorations with about 80 American flags that pop up all over town.

“Everything looks pretty and patriotic. It’s like coming up to Christmas,” Chair of Freetown’s Parade & Fireworks Committee Judy Gregory said. “Everybody loves seeing it like that with the red, white and blue.”

Forget about nine tiny reindeer, too. Nine enchanting turtles grab the attention of children and adults alike.

“If you’ haven’t been to our fireworks, you're missing big time the world famous Freetown racing turtles,” Gregory said.

Gregory believes the tradition began with the fire department and now extends to the Freetown Independence Day celebration. Three turtles “race” at a time while the others rest. Spectators can place quarter bets on who they believe will win.

"There are people who save their quarters in jars all year long and come to bet on the racing turtles,” Gregory said.

Many of those residents placing bets may be wearing blue shirts.

As some SouthCoast towns struggle to raise funding for fireworks, Freetown turned to T-shirts six years ago.

This year, 45 sponsors appear on the back of the nearly 400 T-shirts sold to help raise money for Freetown’s Fourth of July extravaganza. The front of the shirt features a design selected out of 85 submissions. For the fourth consecutive year, a third-grader earned the prize.

“We’re not selling the shirts to make money,” Gregory said. “We’re selling those shirts to get the word out that the sponsors on the back of those shirts are the winners of helping us put on each year’s parade and fireworks.”

Freetown’s fireworks are scheduled for July 3, with festivities beginning at Hathaway Park at 6 p.m. and fireworks launching no earlier than 9:30 p.m. Gregory suggests those attending should arrive early as parking fills up quickly. The parade will follow the next day.