Just outside the old Russells Mills schoolhouse, tradition lived on as the Community Band played out its patriotic tunes for the residents who joined the annual Fourth of July picnic Thursday, July 3. 

Flags were waving, kids were dancing — and marching — and the weather was perfect. 

Fearing it would rain, Band Conductor John Furtado’s worries were put rest when the good sized crowd joined the musicians on the schoolhouse lawn. 

He said every year he is just amazed by how people show up just because they enjoy it.

“Nobody gets paid,” Furtado added. “It’s all volunteer and they just show up because they enjoy doing it — having fun playing music. It’s great.” 

For him, the Fourth of July is “a big deal,” he said. “There are things in this country that a lot of times we take for granted. It all comes from this and things of this nature and we get to do our patriotic music and people seem to really enjoy it. So it’s overall a great day.”

His favorite piece to play for the holiday at this time is the “Armed Forces on Parade,” which features the different themes from each of the military branches. 

“I think it’s important to honor the people that have served and are currently serving and right now, that seems to get me a little bit,” Furtado said.

For many, the picnic is a tradition they can’t pass up, like the family of Nonie Walder, who played bass drum for the band for over 40 years. Though she couldn’t make it herself this year, she had a daughter, grandson and great-granddaughter all celebrating for her. 

The littlest of her descendants, one-and-half-year-old Rachel Rumbut, was having a great time practicing her marches with her grandmother. 

Ana Veloso and her daughter, Sarah, come to the picnic every year for her son, Noah, who plays in the community band.

“It’s tradition and gets us in the mood for the Fourth of July and it’s great music from the community band,” Ana said, noting she loves the traditional songs, especially “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

For Sarah, she loves “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” adding she likes that they host the event outside: “It adds to the ambience.”

Ana agreed, saying she loves that everyone gets to unplug for evening, and also highlighted the historic schoolhouse as the event’s backdrop: “It just brings back the good old days of people coming together and celebrating together in a good old fashioned way.”

Though Anne Fraga and Yvette Cardinal have lived in Dartmouth forever, this was the first time they decided to attend the Fourth of July picnic.

“We always listen to the Dartmouth Band on Tuesdays anyway,” Cardinal noted, with Fraga stating they thought it would give them something to do for the holiday.

“They play nice music,” Fraga added.

Katelyn Beaubrook returned to the picnic for the first time in years with her daughter Sloane, 2. 

Thinking back to her days growing up in Dartmouth, she said, “I just remember it being such a hometown, patriotic feel — just the essence of Dartmouth and this area, especially this time of year.”

Her favorite memories included meeting up with family friends and just “having a good time.” 

“Looks like it’s going to be a beautiful weekend so we’re excited,” she said.