Tonight’s the Night for Darien’s 2018 Fireworks Display: Some Reminders, Tips and a Timetable

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Guesstimate

Part of the crowd. It's only a guesstimate, D.P.D. Chief Duane Lovello said, but there seem to be between 3,500 and 5,000 spectators at a typical Darien fireworks display.

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Gates open at 6:30 p.m. tonight for Darien’s annual fireworks display at Darien High School. Expect the viewer area to be farther from the rockets’ red glare this year, but you’ll still see the bombs bursting in air.

The stadium seating available most years is off limits tonight, with a construction project involving underground power lines making that area unavailable. There is an area on the far side of the school for those who want a little less bang (see the fuzzy map below, upper righthand corner).

If you want to park your car on the high school campus, you’d better have a parking pass with you. Sales of parking passes are over, and you can’t buy one now. You can park on nearby streets, where that’s allowed, or park as far away as Middlesex Middle School or McGuane Park.

Enjoy the Night

Here’s the schedule for the night:

  • 6:30 p.m. — Gates open
  • 7 p.m. — Darien Community Band plays
  • 8 p.m. — A new band for this year, Lackluster Brother, plays
  • 9 p.m. — Fireworks begin

Many people bring a picnic dinner, but there are also food trucks. This year, the trucks will include food from LobsterCraft, Meltmobile, Valencia Lunchiera, Boxcar Cantina, Lucky Dog Food Truck, Blue Wave Taco, Mister Softee, and Edison’s Famous Ice.

No alcohol is allowed on the high school campus.

Map Darien Fireworks Display 2018

Here’s a map on the site. It’s this fuzzy on the town government website, where we found the image.

Rules & Regs

Here’s the Darien police traffic and parking advisory:

The Darien Police Department will enforce traffic regulations and monitor security for the town’s fireworks display on Saturday, July 7, 2018 at Darien High School (DHS).

To park on DHS campus grounds, a parking pass is required. Passes must be visible on the vehicle’s dashboard and they can be obtained from Monday, June 25 through Friday, July 6, ONLY in the First Selectman’s Office (Room 202 [on the second floor]). Parking passes will not be sold at the event. All foot traffic and off-campus parking is free.

All PAID parking traffic will enter DHS campus from Noroton Avenue.

The main entrance will open at 6:30 P.M.

A handicap permit is required to park in the limited handicap parking spaces available.

Guests are urged to allow sufficient time to walk to the display areas to alleviate anticipated traffic problems.

Due to the large number of vehicles expected, parking regulations and designated tow away zones will be strictly enforced. Vehicles in hazardous locations, impeding traffic flow, or are blocking driveways will be towed.

When parking capacity has been reached, Noroton Avenue extension will be closed to vehicular traffic.

No parking will be allowed on Noroton Avenue. Parking is permitted on the south side of the public portion of Holly Lane and the west side of Libby Lane.

Parking lots [with free parking] are available at Middlesex Middle School and McGuane Field.

No alcoholic beverages are allowed on school property. As a safety precaution, all bags, backpacks and coolers will be subject to inspection.

Parents are reminded that they will not be allowed onto DHS campus grounds to pick up their children until after the roads are clear.

For the safety of all spectators, light colored clothing should be worn and if possible, spectators should carry a flashlight or a chemical light.

An emergency services command post will be located in the parking lot near the football field entrance.

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