New Bedford Fireworks, Summer Concerts Funded Amid Budget Crisis

Good news, there will be Fourth of July fireworks in New Bedford this summer, despite a gaping $32 million budget deficit looming over the city like the Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

But the Grinch is not going to claim the Fourth of July celebration, which is so important to area families, especially as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.

City of New Bedford Public Information Officer Jonathan Darling said the money for the fireworks has already been approved.

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How New Bedford Funded the 2026 Fireworks

"The fireworks this year were funded from a free cash transfer submitted to the City Council on February 5, discussed at the Council Finance Committee meeting on March 16, and approved unanimously at the Council's March 25th meeting," he said.

"The transfer, and the contract with the fireworks company, were executed well before the recent budget announcements," Darling said.

Mayor Mitchell Warns of Upcoming Austerity Measures

In a recent budget address, New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell indicated that the budget shortfall would necessitate a sharp property tax increase, job cuts, and the possible closure of a fire station, among other austerity measures.

The fireworks celebration is on Friday, July 3, 2026, at 9 p.m. over New Bedford Harbor. More details will follow.

Barry Richard/Townsquare Media

Summer Sound Series and Block Party Details

There is more positive news as well: the Summer Sound Series will take place as planned. The Friday evening concert series has been a crowd favorite for years, originally starting on the waterfront before relocating downtown.

The show will go on.

"AHA! is organizing and producing the weekly concerts and will have more information on the events in the days ahead," Darling said. The funding structure for the Summer Sound Series includes "federal grant money awarded by the City a few years ago," said Darling, adding that "they will have more details in their press release" in the coming days.

The June through September free concert series draws hundreds of area residents to downtown New Bedford each summer, filling restaurants and bars in the process.

Darling says the fireworks will "cap off a special Summer Sound Series Block Party that night, heading into the America 250 weekend of celebrations."

How Do Fireworks Get Their Colors?

Besides being a fun fact to impress your friends during the finale, knowing what makes fireworks work is a reminder of just how intertwined our daily lives are with Earth’s natural resources. Some of these minerals are considered critical commodities, meaning they’re vital to modern life and can be difficult to source.

So the next time you see a shimmering white sparkle or a deep red bloom over the Mohawk River, you’ll know: there's real science, and some pretty rare elements behind all that beauty.

It all comes down to chemistry. When fireworks are launched, metallic compounds, also called mineral elements, are heated to really hot temperatures. And as they burn, they emit specific colors of light.

The more complex the mix, the more dazzling the display.

Gallery Credit: Unsplash/TSM