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July 4, 2025

Your Front Row Seat in America's Most Patriotic Town

Linden Place's annual Fourth of July Picnic puts you in the center of the action with a front row seat to the oldest continuous Fourth of July parade in the country. Watch the parade from the front lawn of Linden Place, as people have done for generations. Leave the chairs and cooler at home and let us take care of everything for you with coffee and pastries in the morning, a gourmet lunch, plenty of seating, real restrooms, and a place to cool off in our air conditioned ballroom.

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Limited seating and a prime location means this event sells out every year. Get your tickets before May 16 to save with Early Bird rates.

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Early Bird Rates (through May 16):

  • Adult General Admission: $100 (save $25 over regular admission)

  • Adult Linden Place Member: $80 (save $45 over regular admission)

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Regular Admission Rates (from May 17 on):

  • Adult General Admission: $125

  • Adult Linden Place Member: $100 (save $25 over general admission)

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Kids Rates:

  • Ages 4-12, with no lunch included: $25

  • Ages 3 and under: Free

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Admission for children 13+, or those ages 4-12 who would like to receive a box lunch, may be purchased at the General Admission or Linden Place Member rates, depending on the family's membership status.

 

What's for Lunch?

Each Adult ticket includes a gourmet boxed lunch from Fresh Eats by Russell Morin. These boxed lunches include your choice of a gourmet sandwich, chips, seasonal fruit, craft baked cookie, dill pickle, and a bottle of water. Your sandwich choice must be made when you purchase your tickets and cannot be changed on the day of the event. Choose from:

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Ralph's Classic Tuna

with green leaf and tomato on a potato roll

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Virginia Ham & Cheese

whole grain mustard, mayo, Swiss cheese, green leaf, and tomato on a potato roll

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Grilled Vegetable Caprese

grilled zucchini and eggplant, fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil, and balsamic drizzle on a French roll

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Federal Hill

Genoa salami, capicola, ham, provolone, green leaf, pepperoncini, tomato, red onion, and red wine vinaigrette on a crispy baguette

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Turkey BLT

turkey, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, bacon, and honey mustard on a whole wheat batard

  • Are tickets refundable?
    No, tickets are non-refundable. Tickets are transferrable, however, if you wish to pass your tickets on to someone else. Please just let us know of the name change on the reservation by emailing jvelleca@lindenplace.org
  • What time can I arrive?
    Admission to Linden Place’s picnic begins at 7:15am. We cannot allow guests on the property before 7:15am. This is to ensure that we are set up and ready to receive our guests. If you arrive in town before 7:15am, we recommend grabbing coffee or a bite to each at one of the many cafes and restaurants in downtown Bristol.
  • Is the gift shop open?
    Yes, the gift shop will be open throughout the day! Grab a sweet treat, a patriotic souvenir, a new book, stuffed family, or other unique treasure while you wait for the parade. Members always receive a discount in the gift shop.
  • What if it's raining?
    Bristol's 4th of July Parade - and Linden Place's 4th of July Picnic - are rain or shine events. Plan to bring rain gear if rain is forecast. Sunblock and hats are recommended regardless of weather.
  • When does the parade reach Linden Place?
    The parade steps off on Chestnut Street at 10 am and typically reaches Linden Place around 11 am and the parade usually ends about 1:30pm, though of course we cannot be positive of an exact times.
  • Can I reserve my seat on the bleachers / at my preferred table?
    Seating on the bleachers and at the tables is first come, first served. There is plenty of seating for everyone but we are unable to reserve specific seats for guests ahead of time.
  • Can I tour the mansion while I'm there?
    Yes, the mansion will be open for you to tour before the parade begins. Tours are self guided and included with your admission to the picnic. The mansion will be closed once the parade starts.
  • Can I bring in my own food?
    Yes! Adult tickets include coffee and pastries in the morning as well as a boxed lunch, but you are welcome to bring your own food with you as well.
  • Are the restrooms accessible?
    Yes. There are accessible restrooms in our ballroom available for your use throughout the day.
  • Do we have to stay on the grounds all day?
    No. When you arrive at Linden Place, you'll check in at our registration table and receive a wristband. This wristband will give you continued access to the grounds for the rest of the day so you are welcome to come and go as you please.
  • Where do we park?
    There is no parking available on site at Linden Place. There is parking available throughout town in public lots and on the street. There is limited parking in the public lot behind the Colt School next door. We are not able to reserve spaces in the public lot or on the street. We encourage you to reference the Bristol 4th of July Committee website for information about parking in town and road closures. Please be advised that several roads in the downtown area close between 7:00 am and 8:00 am on July 4. We recommend getting to Linden Place before 8am to ensure ease of navigating and parking nearby.
  • Who are the judges and how are they evaluating the submissions?
    Every judging panel includes a mix of professional creative writers and experts in early Black history. Past judges include Lissette Acosta Corniel, Steve Edwards, Rosaria Munda, Octavia McBride-Ahebee, Seth Rockman, Chaya Bhuvaneswar, Padma Venkatraman, Jennifer Lighty, Adam McNeil, Daisy Abreu, Robert Isenberg, Eirene Tran Donahue, and Marco McWilliams. There are two rounds of judging. Individual submissions are first judged on social impact of the statement of intent, creativity, and merit of the writing sample. For the second and final round of judging, evaluators are looking at all previously stated criteria as well as curating a collective group of writers who represent diversity in as many areas as possible. We do not employ a blind judging process. You can read why in this article.
  • What mediums do you accept?
    For application writing samples and proposed works while in residence we accept fiction (all genres), narrative non-fiction, poetry, screenplays, and plays.
  • Who can apply to the residency?
    LPWR is open to all levels of creative writer including beginner, mid-career, hobbyist, or seasoned writers, who will create a new work while they are in residence. They must be at least 18 years old and meet one of the following criteria: Have Rhode Island as a primary residence at least 9 months of the year or live along the Massachusetts border within 25 miles of Linden Place. College students (18+) who can be present for the public reading event on June 11th are welcome to apply. Former writers’ in residence must wait 3 years to apply to the program again.
  • What is expected of the writers when in residence?
    Writers will be expected to start a new writing project while in residence and work on site at Linden Place for a minimum of 8 hours during the month of April, with no more than 4 visits. Writers are also required to attend the reading of their works in progress and community discussion in early/mid-June.
  • Is there any food available for purchase?
    Linden Place does not have food available for sale, aside from candy in the Gift Shop. We welcome visitors to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the grounds before or after their tour or to enjoy one of the many local restaurants that surround Linden Place in downtown Bristol.
  • Is photography allowed?
    Visitors are welcome to take non-flash photographs of their visit to Linden Place, but a Photography pass and appointment are required for the use of additional professional equipment like tripods, lighting, etc. or for photography sessions by a professional photographer (first communion, graduation, engagement, senior portraits, etc.). If you share your photos on social media, don't forget to tag us! Please note that visitors may be photographed, videotaped, or otherwise recorded while in the museum or attending museum events. While at Linden Place, you grant the museum permission to use photographs and/or audiovisual recordings in which you appear for archival, documentary, publicity, advertising, or other purposes. Please contact us at (401) 253-0390 or info@lindenplace.org if you have any questions.
  • Does the tour include the grounds?
    Before and after your tour of the Mansion you are welcome to enjoy and explore the 2 acres of the Linden Place estate, including our ballroom and summer house. We also offer a guided Gardens and Grounds tour during the summer and fall seasons.
  • Can I bring a stroller to Linden Place?
    Linden Place welcomes strollers anywhere on the grounds on the estate. However, strollers are not allowed within the mansion. At the start of your tour, we will place your stroller in a secure area where you can pick it up at the conclusion of your tour.
  • Can I schedule a group tour?
    Linden Place is delighted to welcome groups of any size to visit the mansion and grounds. Group tours must be scheduled in advance. Contact the office at 401-253-0390 or email info@lindenplace.org for more information.
  • Can I bring my pet to Linden Place?
    While service animals are welcome at Linden Place, pets and emotional support animals are not permitted.

All proceeds from the event benefit Linden Place and its mission to preserve the treasured property for future generations and create a welcoming environment through programs that enhance the artistic, cultural, and educational life of the community.

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