The American Society of Bermuda has scaled back its annual fourth of July celebrations this year.

Society president Will Webber said financial challenges had caused the event to be limited to 2000 previous parties have seen as many as 6,000 persons attend.

The event will be held next Saturday at Moresby Plain in Dockyard. Attendance is by invitation only.

"We're doing it on July 3," he said. "It will be a much reduced size party than it's been in the past few years. We have got some sponsors and we have good membership.

"It's picnic food and fireworks. We're having a small group. Some of these July 4 parties were like 6,000, 7,000 people. [This one is] a private party. There are no tickets available to the public."

The Somerset Brigade Band will perform and there will be children's games put on by the Salvation Army.

One lucky partygoer will win the door prize, a Honda Lead donated by HWP.

Celebrations will run from 5.30 p.m. until 9.30 p.m., with fireworks ending the night.