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The Parks and Recreation Department sets its fireworks off from a barge on Long Island Sound, with the best views from Jennings and Penfield beaches. The show itself begins just after dark, or about 9:15 p.m. The Atwood Express Oldies Band will perform on Jennings Beach from 5 to 7 p.m. as a pre-show.
Fairfield Police warn residents that any other kinds of fireworks, including sparklers, will not be allowed on the beach Thursday night. Drinking alcohol is also illegal on Fairfield’s beaches.
You do not need a parking permit to park at the town’s lots at Jennings and Penfield after 6 p.m. Thursday. However, street parking will be banned along Reef Road, Penfield Road, Lalley Boulevard, Rowland Road, One Rod Highway, Edwards Street, South Benson Road and parts of Fairfield Beach Road on Thursday evening. All cars parked on those streets after 6 p.m. will be towed.
“This is a necessary action to provide an access to the beach area for fire apparatus and other emergency vehicles and to facilitate the movement of the anticipated large volume of traffic,” the Fairfield Police said in a press release.
Shortly after the show starts, streets leading to the beach area will be one-way south of the Post Road. Cars will only be allowed to travel north until the fireworks traffic is clear. Rowland Road will also be closed to all traffic to allow emergency vehicles to get to the beach if necessary.
As a new policy this year, cars leaving the fireworks will not be allowed to turn onto Old Post Road or Oldfield Road after the show. All cars must also follow a strict traffic pattern once they reach Post Road:
? Cars on South Benson can continue straight onto North Benson Road, or turn right to head toward Fairfield Avenue.
? Cars on Beach Road or Old Post Road cannot turn at Post Road, and must continue straight to Round Hill Road and Unquowa Road, respectively.
? Cars on Reef Road will only be allowed to turn west on Post Road, heading toward Mill Plain Road.
“This is to reduce the cross traffic and make it safer for pedestrians and allow for quicker clearance of the beach area,” Fairfield Police said.
In cases of inclement weather, the fireworks show will be postponed to Friday evening. You can call 203-256-3144 on Thursday to see whether the show is still scheduled.
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