NORTH ANDOVER, MA — Independence Day is fast approaching so it’s time to find out where you can celebrate in and around North Andover. Area events include fireworks, festivals and other Fourth of July fun.

To help you fit it all in on your 4th of July calendar, Patch has put together a guide to what’s going on in North Andover and the surrounding areas.

Today, Americans celebrate the birth of a new nation with fireworks, parades, concerts, and family gatherings and barbecues. Celebrations, though, predate by centuries the designation of Independence Day as a federal holiday, which didn’t happen until 1941.

During the pivotal summer of 1776, the pre-Revolutionary celebrations honoring King George III’s birthday were replaced with mock funerals as a symbolic break from the crown.

It was an exciting time in Philadelphia — the Continental Congress voted to break from the crown and, two days later on July 4, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the original 13 colonies —New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland. Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia — to adopt the Declaration of Independence.

The first annual commemoration of the nation’s independence was in Philadelphia on July 4, 1777, while the Revolutionary War was ongoing. Fireworks have been part of Fourth of July festivities since the first celebration in Philadelphia.

FALL RIVER —It was a 17^th birthday that she will never forget for Maggie Leighton of Leominster, a rising senior at Leominster High School, who was named Miss Massachusetts’ Teen 2024.  The 24th annual competition was held on Sunday June 16th at B.M.C Durfee High School in Fall River.  Sixteen candidates from across the Commonwealth competed for the title and over $6,700 was awarded to the contestants in scholarships. Emma Gibney of New Bedford, Miss Massachusetts’ Teen 2023 crowned her successor before an audience of more than 300 attendees. 

Leighton, who competed as Miss Cranberry Country’s Teen, will compete at the Miss America’s Teen competition in Orlando, Florida in January 2025.  As Miss Massachusetts’ Teen, she will receive $3,000 in scholarships and various awards and gifts from competition sponsors.  At the national competition, she will have the opportunity to compete for thousands of dollars more.

 Leighton will dedicate her year of service to her personal Community Service Initiative, “Play On – Ensuring Access to Music Education.” Maggie states “The benefits of music education ripple out into all areas of a student’s life – it can build confidence, reduce anxiety, and give students a place they belong.  I will use my year of service as Miss Massachusetts’ Teen to advocate for all students to have access to school music programs regardless of their financial situations.”   She will also promote the Miss America Opportunity’s national platform, The American Heart Association’s Go Red campaign. At the state competition, the 16 candidates collectively raised nearly $8,000 for The American Heart Association and the Miss America and Miss Massachusetts scholarship organizations.

At Leominster High School, Maggie was the 2024 recipient of the Harvard Book Award and is a member of the National Honor Society, where she was inducted as a sophomore.  She is the Leominster High School representative on the Mayor’s Youth Council, and she has received academic excellence awards in Italian. She is also active in the performing arts at school as a member of the show choir and chorus.  An accomplished pianist and vocalist, Leighton was the recipient of the Music in the Parks Accompanist Award and the Best Performer Award at the Central Massachusetts Show Choir Festival.  Maggie is also very involved in sports at school, where she is a member of the volleyball and tennis teams.  She was an Honorable Mention award winner for Player of the Year for the USA Today High School Sports Award as well as an All-Star Player Award for the Midland Wachusett MA League. She also studies ballet and jazz.

Leighton plans to obtain a B.S. in Biochemistry and continue to medical school to become a cardiologist.  She is the daughter of Jennifer and Corey Leighton of Leominster.  For the talent portion of the competition, she performed a vocal to “Livin’ On a Prayer” by Bon Jovi.

The Miss Massachusetts’ Teen competition includes teenagers from ages 13 to 18.    Other winners received scholarship awards.  They included:

The first runner-up was Laila Hosnander, a 16-year-old rising junior at Minnechaug Regional High School.  She resides in Hampden and was awarded a $1,000 scholarship.   She competed as Miss Worcester County’s Teen.

The second runner-up and the recipient of a $750 scholarship was Marianna McCallum of Walpole, 16, a rising junior at Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick. She competed as Miss Taunton’s Teen.

The third runner-up was Faith O’Hanlon who received a $500 scholarship.  A resident of North Attleboro, she is an 18-year-old graduate of Bishop Feehan High School who will be attending Auburn University in the fall.    She competed as an At-Large contestant.

The fourth runner-up was Na’Shajia Monteiro, 18, of New Bedford.  A June 2024 graduate of Old Rochester Regional High School she competed as Miss Boston’s Teen.  She received a scholarship of $250.  She will be attending the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the fall.

The Non-Finalist Interview Award winner and the recipient of a $100 scholarship was Miss Fall River’s Teen Lillian Annette Rankin. She also received the Marketing Award Scholarship in the amount of $100 for being the combined highest fundraiser for ad sales and the Spot Fund American Heart Association.  She is a 17-year-old rising senior at Silver Lake Regional High School and resides in Plympton.

The Non-Finalist Evening Gown winner and the recipient of a $100 scholarship was Jaime St. Onge of Acushnet. She is the current Miss Southeastern Massachusetts’ Teen. A June 2024 graduate of Fairhaven High School, she will be attending Stonehill College in the fall.

The 4^th Annual Millie Perry Community Service Award and the recipient of a $100 scholarship was Miss Middleboro’s Teen Anastasia Rose.  This award was judged by an outside panel and was named in honor of the late mother of the State Teen Director Donna Klamkin. Anastasia’s Community Service Initiative is called “Stasia Strong ~ Staying Strong for Others, Helping Those Battling Cancer”. The 16-year-old rising junior at Old Colony Regional Vocational High School resides in Acushnet.

Miss New Bedford’s Teen Layla Rej Johnson, a 16-year-old rising junior at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School was the winner of the  Online SpotFund People’s Choice Award. She received half of the money she raised for a total of $870.  For the month leading up to the competition, voters could choose their favorite candidate and vote for her online to be eligible for this scholarship award. Layla is a resident of New Bedford.

The Spirit of Miss Massachusetts’ Teen which was voted by her peers was Miss Cape Cod’s Teen, 14-year-old Bree LeFavor of Marion.  She is a rising freshman at Old Rochester Regional High School.

The other candidates included:

Alyssa Mae Babineau, 18, of Malden, is a 2024 graduate of Malden Catholic High School and will enter St. Anselm College in the fall. She competed as Miss Whitman’s Teen. 

Elaina Bergeron, 16, of Wilbraham, is a rising junior at Minnechaug Regional High School. She competed as Miss Pioneer Valley’s Teen.

Olivia Charest, 14, of New Bedford, is a rising freshman at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School. She competed as Miss Freetown’s Teen.

Maddie Mathias, 16, of Ludlow, is a rising junior at Ludlow High School. She competed as Miss Western Massachusetts’ Teen.

Noelle O’Hanlon, 15 of North Attleboro is a rising sophomore at Bishop Feehan High School. She competed Miss Blackstone Valley’s Teen

Katie Thomas, 15, of Fall River, is a rising sophomore at B.M.C Durfee High School. She competed as Miss Lakeville’s Teen.

The Miss Massachusetts’ Teen competition is affiliated with the Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Foundation.  For information about the Miss Massachusetts’ Teen program, or to book Maggie for an appearance, you can email Donna Klamkin at donnaklamkin@gmail.com.

For information about The Miss Massachusetts’ Teen program, visit www.mmaoteen.org.