Members of the Candia select board and residents discussed preliminary ideas on June 23 for celebrating the United States' 250th anniversary next year, including a possible fireworks display, parades and community events.

Residents and board members proposed holding local events the weekend before July 4 next year, with June 27 discussed as a candidate date. Suggestions included partnering with fireworks contractors, using the town park and the school grounds for activities, float contests, scouts' involvement and food vendors. Several speakers noted volunteer recruitment and fundraising would be necessary; ideas included GoFundMe campaigns and community donations.

Speakers raised safety and logistics concerns, including parking, crowd size and a loss of elevated viewing areas that once made fireworks displays safer. One select board member suggested forming a committee; a resident named Linda volunteered to help coordinate. No formal committee was created at the meeting, and no budget, permit requests or vendor commitments were recorded in the transcript.

The discussion was exploratory; the board asked interested residents to develop ideas and volunteers to come forward so planning can proceed in coming months.