Residents are going to “Celebrate our American Heritage” this 4th of July with concerts, bonfires, and parades.

Members of the Duxbury 4th of July Activities Committee have been working hard for several months to come up with an appropriate theme and events to fill the weekend.

Members of the committee chose to honor the John and Priscilla Alden House this year while choosing a theme.

After a seven year application process, the Alden House was chosen as a National Historic Landmark last November. The house will host an award ceremony on August 1, when the Department of the Interior will send a representative to officially christen the site as a historic landmark, said Jim Baker, a curator at the house.

The committee wanted to encompass a lot in their theme, but also honor the recognition that the Alden House is receiving, Maggie Kearney, a co-chair of the committee said.

“We felt that Celebrate Our Heritage would include the Alden House, but also give (those involved) many options,” Kearney said.

“The themes are sometimes more historical,” Don Reed, a member of the committee, said. He also added that they want to make it easy for those involved to create floats. As always, members of the committee want to keep it as “non-commercial as possible,” Reed said.

“It’s important to come up with a theme that’s a little different each year,” Kearney said.

The committee raised about $22,000 this year from private donations.

“It’s been a tough year for businesses,” Kearney said. Plymouth has cancelled their fireworks show this year due to financial difficulties.

The Duxbury 4th of July Committee also received $10,000 from the town. Every year at the town meeting, $10,000 is appropriated in the budget for the 4th of July.

“It’s an important event for the town. $10,000 out of millions isn’t much,” Kearney said. She added that the town is willing to support the committee because they do their own fundraising in addition to the money from the town.

“That’s what so great about the committee,” Kearney said. The committee not only organizes the parade and other events, but does fundraising too.

The parade will be lead by Marshals Roberta and Gil MacNab and Mary Barclay. The MacNabs have given over 4,000 hours of community service in Duxbury and surrounding towns. Barclay is a substitute teacher in the Duxbury schools who has touched the lives of many students. She also founded the Mary and Brett Barclay award, given to a graduating senior every year. She continues to give up much of her time to various organizations and charities.

“They are such a part of Duxbury heritage,” Kearney said. “They’ve contributed a lot to the town and are representative of good citizens. They deserve to be recognized.”

The 4th of July committee has been meeting regularly since February to work out the celebration weekend.

“It’s a long weekend, but a good time for everyone,” Reed said. “We want to make it a fun, safe, enjoyable weekend.”

Fourth of July Events

Thursday July 2: Improv Asylum at the Performing Arts Center.

Come watch the Boston improvisation and sketch comedy group to kick off the weekend. There will be a family show at 7 p.m., followed by an adult show at 9 p.m. Tickets for children and students are $5, and $15 for adults accompanying them. Tickets for the later show are $20.

Friday July 3: Duxbury Beach Party

Good fun for the whole family: Music, magician, food, and a bonfire. The party kicks off at 4:30 p.m. with a magician, followed by a Crazy Hat Contest and music from Duxbury Idol winner Tori Lorusso, as well as the bands 22 Foot Drop and The Connected. Parking is available, for residents in the beach lot, with overflow parking at Blakemans.

Saturday, July 4: Road Race

The Fourth officially kicks off at 9 a.m. with the 4.25 mile 4th of July Road Race. Registration opens at 8 a.m. at the Duxbury Middle School and costs $25. Proceeds go to the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy Project Catalyst, to help boys with Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy. There’s a $50 cash prize for the male and female fastest new course record. The race is sponsored by active.com

117th Annual Duxbury 4th of July Parade

The parade starts at 2 p.m. in Halls Corner and proceeds down Washington Street. This year’s parade will include about 14 floats, antique cars, and a marching band. Participants should gather at 12:30 p.m. in Halls Corner. Parking is available along the route or at the high school. Parents are asked to keep a close watch on their kids to keep them off the road, as large floats will be going through the street.

Sunday July 5: Cornerstone Breakfast

Wrap the weekend up with a relaxing breakfast at the Corner Stone Lodge between 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

4th of July Concert

The last event of the weekend is a free concert, that starts at 6 p.m., at Duxbury High School by the South Shore Bay Band. The concert will take place in front of the school.

Special Note: GATRA Buses are available for senior citizens on parade day.