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Send me the listRead our full coverage: Our complete guide to Montville’s 50th Annual Fourth of July Celebration has the full three-night schedule, wristband and parking details, and the fireworks rain date.
The biggest summer tradition in Montville Township is back, and this year it comes with a milestone. The Montville Township 4th of July Celebration is marking its 50th anniversary with three nights of rides, food, live music, and fireworks at Montville Township High School, 100 Horseneck Road, in the library parking lot. The celebration runs Wednesday, June 24 through Friday, June 26, 2026, and the fireworks finale lights up the sky Friday night.
A golden anniversary, and a first-ever drone show
To mark 50 years, organizers added something brand new for 2026: a drone light show. The display lit up the sky over Montville on Wednesday, June 24 at roughly 8:45 p.m., the first drone experience in the celebration’s history and a modern twist on a tradition that has brought the township together for half a century.
Carnival, food trucks, and live music every night
The carnival opens at 5 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday and at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, with rides from Blue Sky Amusements. More than a dozen food vendors rotate through the three days, including Cousins Maine Lobster, Empanada Times, The Mozzarella God, Kona Ice, and Lady Kettle Corn, plus a new beer truck from the Columbia Inn Restaurant.
Live music anchors every evening. Thursday, June 25 brings The Meld at 5 p.m. and The Nerds at 7:30 p.m., along with a hot dog eating contest at 6:30 p.m. and a pie eating contest at 8:30 p.m. Friday, June 26 closes things out with Tuned Up at 4:30 p.m. and ARENA Relive The Rock from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m. The full entertainment schedule is posted on the event website.
Friday’s fireworks finale
The fireworks are the main event, and they cap the celebration on Friday, June 26. An opening ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m., the live music plays into the evening, and the fireworks are set to start at approximately 9:15 p.m.
Montville is not the only town lighting up the sky that night. Pequannock Township’s annual fireworks also go off Friday, June 26, and the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club’s barge fireworks light up Mount Arlington the same evening.
Parking and what to know
Admission to the celebration is free. Parking is $10 and is valid for all three days, so hold on to your pass and bring it back each day. On Wednesday and Thursday, enter through the Montville Library. Additional Friday parking is available at Casha Casha, Provident Bank, Trinity School, Lazar Middle School, the office park across from TD Bank, and Community Park.
With the carnival open tonight and the fireworks finale Friday, there is still plenty of time to catch Montville’s golden anniversary. If you are already mapping out the rest of July, the Mt. Olive Carnival at Turkey Brook Park runs July 8 to 12.
Planning around the rest of the season? Our guide to carnivals and firemen’s fairs in Morris County lists every midway in the county from May through Labor Day.
