The Fourth of July Parade and Celebration in Ridgefield Park was established in 1894 and is held annually. Alongside this long-standing tradition, the village offers local history, a nature preserve, community gardens, and individual recreational activities. Different access requirements are important when planning: the Preserve is reserved for residents, while the gardens expressly allow the public to harvest vegetables and herbs.
Parade and Local Tradition
The Fourth of July Parade and Celebration is the oldest continuously held parade in the United States and also the oldest in New Jersey. Its cultural significance is reflected in its founding in 1894 and the tradition’s continuation each year. If you want to plan your trip around the celebration, check the specific dates, as annual event schedules may change.
Children from the Village and beyond take part in the Baby and Youth Parade in Ridgefield Park. They walk or ride in decorated carriages, elaborately designed floats, or personally decorated bicycles. Thus, the parade format includes both walking groups and a range of decorated vehicles.
Nature with Clear Access Requirements
The Ridgefield Park Nature Preserve is a habitat for native plants and wildlife. Access is reserved for residents; the Preserve is open daily from dawn to dusk. Since access requirements may change, check them before visiting. Plan a visit to the Preserve only if you meet this access requirement.
At Quinn Overlook, visitors can take part in citizen science with the Chronolog. Chronolog is a community photo-monitoring project that makes participation in this topic tangible: here, nature observation and community photography come together. Access to the Preserve remains restricted to residents.
Collections on Local History
The Gregory Olsen Local History Room has collections of photographs, newspaper articles, and maps relating to the history of Ridgefield Park. The collection also includes Ridgefield Park High School yearbooks dating back to 1919. This brings together a variety of media on local history with a series of yearbooks spanning a specific period. The school collection provides a distinct focus within the broader local history.
Gardens and Individual Recreational Spots
The McGowan and Fellowship Community Gardens have raised beds of vegetables and herbs that the public is expressly permitted to harvest. Public garden rules may change, so check the current regulations before visiting. Harvesting is a specific part of what the gardens offer, not just growing plants in the raised beds.
The John B. Davis Municipal Pool is the Village of Ridgefield Park’s outdoor swimming pool and is located at the eastern end of Hobart Street. Model boating is offered at the Overpeck County Park site on Challenger Road in Ridgefield Park. These destinations differ in type: one is identified as a municipal outdoor pool, while the other is defined by a specific activity at a particular park location.
Discover more destinations: Hasbrouck Heights, Englewood, Saddle Brook, Fair Lawn, Upper Saddle River, Little Ferry, Mahwah, South Hackensack Township
For the broader travel overview: Bergen.
