Life in Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset and Union Counties is beginning to inch back to normal which means some of those awesome fireworks celebrations are coming back tooI  Most towns are keeping their fireworks displays on the calendar, some doing so after reversing course in an abundance of caution a few weeks ago.

In Central Jersey, you can catch these crowd-pleasing pyrotechnic displays everywhere from the hustle and bustle of Woodbridge to the open fields of Readington. Here’s where to head this season.

Hunterdon County

Readington Township: July 23 at 9:30 p.m., as part of the New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning at Solberg Airport, 39 Thor Solberg Road in the Whitehouse Station section. Go: balloonfestival.com.

Middlesex County

Carteret: July 3 at Waterfront Park at 200 Middlesex Ave. Festival is from 5 to 9 p.m., with rides, games, live music, food and vendors. Fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Go: carteret.net/13206-2/.

Highland Park: July 1 at Donaldson Park, 526 S. 2nd Ave. Music and food vendors start at 6 p.m., fireworks at 9:20 p.m. Rain date is July 5. Go: 732-819-0052; hpboro.com/Home/Components/News/News/1307/17.

Milltown: July 3. Fishing derby at 6 a.m., fun run at 7:30 a.m., 5K run at 8 a.m., parade at 10 a.m. at the corner of Van Liew Avenue and Main Street, duck race at 12:30 p.m., live music at 6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m., fireworks at 9:30 p.m. at Bradford Park at 80 Violet Terrace. Go: facebook.com/Milltown4thofJuly/.

Somerset County


Bridgewater: July 6, 9, 10, 23 and Aug. 7, 13, 26 and 28 after Somerset Patriots games at TD Bank Ballpark at 860 E Main St. Go: milb.com/somerset/schedule/2021-07.Franklin Township: July 2 at the municipal complex, 475 DeMott Lane. Live music starts at 7:30 p.m., fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Rain date is July 9. Go: franklintwpnj.org/Home/Components/News/News/9615/1130?backlist=%2f.

North Plainfield: July 10 at West End School, 447 Greenbrook Road. Festival starts at 5 p.m., fireworks at dusk. Rain date is July 11. Go: northplainfield.org/government/calendars/community_events_calendar.php.

Spotswood and Helmetta: July 3. Parade at 2 p.m. starting at Immaculate Conception Church in Spotswood and ending at Helmetta Borough Hall. Celebration continues at 6:30 p.m. at Helmetta Lake Pavilion, 17 Maple St., for family activities, a beer and sangria garden, food trucks, music and fireworks. Go: bit.ly/3iG8AUE

Plainfield: July 4 at Cedar Brook Park, 1000-1098 Allenwood Drive, 9:30 p.m. Cars may enter the park between 8 and 9:15 p.m. Rain date is July 11. Sign-up required at register.communitypass.net/reg/index.cfm. Only open for city residents. Go: bit.ly/2S3OlFC