NORTHAMPTON — Look Park transformed into a scene of pastoral, community celebration Saturday evening, as onlookers gathered to watch the seventh annual Northampton Family Fourth fireworks display.

It was an all-American summer’s day: 75 degrees, cloudless and sunny. Food trucks, carnival games and even a hot air balloon tempted attendees, but most seemed happy to simply relax and listen to the live bands on stage or toss around a baseball in the park’s large, open field.

The event started at 4:30 and ran until the fireworks show ended, around 9:30.

Brenda Ryan, the event’s chairwoman, said she expected nearly 10,000 people to turn out for the event from all corners of the Pioneer Valley. Easthampton stopped holding a fireworks display in 2015 due to financial constraints, and Ryan said she expected a lot of people to come to Northampton’s instead.

Revelers parked at JFK Middle School, while Northampton police helped direct traffic to manage the masses of people.

The Northampton High School class of 2019 was running a ladder toss to raise money for their class. Class President Michael Diaz said that the teenagers were trying to cultivate a positive image in their community.

“We’re not all that scary,” Diaz joked. A Northampton native, he said that he looks forward to the event every year. “It’s a staple of opening up the summer in Northampton,” he said.

Laura Livermore sat on a lawnchair, waiting for the fireworks with her extended family. She said she was happy to see a large turnout for the event

“I think everybody feels welcome,” she said.

Amherst, Chesterfield, South Hadley, Ware, Holyoke and Springfield will hold their own Independence Day celebrations on July 4.

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