Move Over July 4th: Fireworks Coming Early to Poughkeepsie… Sort Of

There's nothing quite like the spectacle of fireworks. Unless you're a dog, then f**k 'em. But for the humans among us, there's good news in Dutchess County because we don't have to wait for our nation's Independence Day to enjoy some exploding shells in the sky.

Fireworks in Poughkeepsie, NY

First, a disclaimer: the fireworks aren't technically for everybody. Marist College applied for a public fireworks display license from the town of Poughkeepsie, NY as part of their 2022 Riverfest celebration. The event is happening on Friday, April 29th, but if you want to see the display and aren't a college student, it might be best to find a nearby rooftop.

Riverfest at Marist College

Riverfest is billed as "a fun evening by the river with food, beverages, fireworks, and fun" exclusively for Marist students 21 years and older. Both a Marist student ID and government ID are required to purchase tickets. The good news is that fireworks aren't exactly able to be hidden behind a fence (or the fancy gate at Marist College's entrance on Route 9), so technically, everyone will be able to enjoy them (the most amateur artist's rendition possible below).

Where Marist College Ranks in the Hudson Valley

Riverfest sounds like an awesome idea for a celebration, so Marist gets an A in my book. But how do they rank collegiately? Marist recently placed fifth in the Hudson Valley out of seven area schools. Taking a look at several ranking systems, Marist didn't make the national US News & World Report list, The Princeton Review, or WalletHub's rankings for top schools. It was, however, ranked 10th regionally, which is a pretty impressive accomplishment.

Want to experience your own fireworks? Check out what you need to know below.