BRISTOL — The 2021 Bristol Fourth of July parade may have been canceled because of COVID-19, but the town’s annual fireworks display will return this year, along with the ever popular Outhouse Race.

The fireworks show will begin around 9:45 p.m. on Friday, July 2, at the usual spot, the Mount Abraham Union High School sports field off of Airport Drive.

Spectators are encouraged to show up early.

Parking will be provided by the Masons, and food and other vendors will be on hand next door at the Bristol Recreation Department field, according to a Front Porch Forum post last month by Bristol 4th of July Committee member Ted Lylis.

As in previous years, Northstar Fireworks will produce the show.

The Outhouse Race will take place on Elm Street at noon on Sun., July 4.

If possible, competitors should contact Cam Perta at [email protected] to register their team beforehand, but organizers will happily accept teams who show up the day of, Perta said.

A few teams have already signed up, Perta added, and organizers would love to have more.

Spectators are not just welcome but encouraged. Come out and see this beloved annual Bristol tradition and cheer on your favorite team.

Despite COVID-19 restrictions, Outhouse Race organizers managed to stage the competition in 2020. For a recap of that event, see last year’s story in the Independent here.

This past April the Bristol 4th of July Committee voted to cancel this year’s fireworks and parade festivities because of continued uncertainty about the pandemic.

“This was not a unanimous decision and there were several alternative plans considered, but in the end we decided we needed to get COVID-19 behind us,” wrote Committee member Cecil Foster on Front Porch Forum at the time.

The fireworks and Outhouse Race have since been revived.

Another Bristol tradition connected to the Fourth of July, the Chicken Barbecue Supper, was held on June 23. The annual fundraiser helps offset the cost of the fireworks display.