By Mike Finney

DOVER — There is something special about sitting in a lawn chair or on a blanket on the historic grounds of Legislative Mall in Dover on the Fourth of July and seeing the vibrant colors of fireworks exploding high in the night sky, bringing with it the thunderous sounds of booms echoing off buildings throughout the city.

Dover Mayor Robin Christansen said that the history of Delaware’s capital city is what makes it such a unique place to enjoy Independence Day.

“Where else could you have a better location than Legislative Mall, which is just one block from where America started?” Mayor Christiansen said.

“Everybody says that’s not true, but 30 Delawareans met in the Golden Fleece Tavern and two of them woke up the next morming and said we did what?

“We ratified the Constitution and made Delaware the First State and we played a great part in the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

“I can stand there and say that’s where America started. We are all very fortunate to be Doverites, Kent Countians and Delawareans and celebrate the Fourth of July, so I’m looking forward to a big bang (on Monday).”

Over the past several years, Dover’s Fourth of July celebration has faced multiple rainouts and was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Mayor Christiansen wouldn’t give a weather guarantee for Monday’s Fourth of July Celebration in Dover, but said, “Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, we’ll have good weather.”

The National Weather Service is calling for mostly sunny skies on Independence Day in Dover with a high near 86 degrees, with partly cloudy skies for the fireworks show just after dusk.

Dover will have tours of historic buildings around Legislative Mall and The Green throughout the day, as well as food trucks ready to fill those appetites.

American Legion Walter L. Fox Post No. 2 will host an old-fashioned patriotic parade down State Street at 6 p.m. The parade, which will feature floats, fire trucks, marchers and antique and classic cars, will start on Hazel Street, head south on State Street, pass the reviewing stand on The Green and end at Water Street.

Spinjocs Entertainment will be providing the crowd with popular hit songs starting at 6:30 p.m. as visitors await the fireworks on Legislative Mall.

Remarks will be given from Mayor Christiansen during the opening ceremony at 8 p.m. followed by the fireworks display by Pyro Fireworks at around 9:15 p.m.

“I’m a fireworks kind of guy and have been since I was a little kid and almost blew my fingers off,” Mayor Christiansen said, with a laugh. “Once again, it’s another opportunity for all of us to get together and celebrate the greatest nation on the face of the earth, if not the history of the world.”

Anybody wishing to view the fireworks without getting caught in the downtown traffic could try viewing them from the Kent County Veterans Memorial Park, which is across the highway but still offers spectacular views and easy in/out access. The deck at Frazier’s Restaurant off Loockerman Street in downtown Dover also offers up-close views but often fills up early.

Other Fourth of July fireworks displays taking place on Monday night at around dusk (9:15 p.m.) include: Bethany Beach; Dewey Beach, off McKinley Street in Rehoboth Bay; Hockessin, Swift Park; Laurel; Lewes; Middletown, Silver Lake Park; Newark, University of Delaware Athletics Complex; Smyrna, Little League fields across from Smyrna High; and Wilmington, on the Riverfront.