America celebrates its birthday

The Independence Day weekend will feature parades, festivals and fireworks throughout the region. Some Saturday highlights include community festivals in Honesdale, Livingston Manor, Narrowsburg, Matamoras and Roscoe, with evening fireworks scheduled in Honesdale, Matamoras and at the Town of Thompson Park near Monticello. July 4 festivities include an auto show in Fosterdale, parades in Glen Spey, Liberty and Narrowsburg, and evening fireworks in Narrowsburg.

Schedule:

Narrowsburg Fire Department holds annual field day

NARROWSBURG, NY — The annual Narrowsburg Fire Department Field Day will be held at Lander’s Campgrounds July 3 and 4. Saturday and Sunday at the field will feature food vendors, amusement rides, craft exhibits, pony rides, firemen’s field games and live entertainment, and the annual fireworks display will happen Sunday, July 4 at dusk, also at the field.

Sunday will also bring a parade through the hamlet of Narrowsburg at 1:00 p.m. with three marching bands, floats and lots of fire trucks. Visitors are advised to arrive early to find space and avoid traffic. The parade will line up at Narrowsburg Ford on Bridge Street at 12:00 noon. The firemen’s chicken barbecue will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Sponsors of the weekend events include Beth’s Country Store, Fleet/Bank of America, Narrowsburg Ford Motors and the Narrowsburg Inn. For more information or to purchase tickets for the barbecue call Woody at 570/729-0008.

Parade and fireworks over the big lake

HAWLEY, PA — An Independence Day Parade will take place on Main Avenue on Sunday, July 4, at 2:00 p.m. A winning ticket will be drawn for a gas grill. Tickets are still available at the Route 6 information center.

In the evening, watch a fireworks display (rain date July 10) at approximately 9:15 p.m. next to the high school The bleachers will be open to spectators by 6:30 p.m. Musical DJ entertainment will be provided. Park in the high school lots. Boaters will have to stay 1000 feet away from the firing location because of insurance requirements.

The fireworks are sponsored in part by Lighthouse Harbor Marina. This marks the 10th year that the marina has donated $5,000 to benefit the display. For more information call 570/226-3191 or visit hawleywallenpaupackcc.com.

9/11 Memorial Flag to crown celebrations

HONESDALE, PA — The 9/11 Memorial Flag will be part of the Independence Day activities in Central Park on Saturday, July 3. The flag is 22 feet high and 32 feet wide and is made up of 2,972 4 x 6 inch American flags, each representing a victim of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the United States.

Activities include children’s games beginning at 5:00 p.m., music with the Church Street Jazz Encounter and The Crystal Band of Scranton beginning at 6:00 p.m. and a spectacular fireworks display at dusk.

There is no admission charge. A free-will donation will be accepted during the evening to help underwrite costs of the entertainment and games provided by the Wayne County Creative Arts Council.

The fireworks display is presented by the Greater Honesdale Partnership and paid for by contributions from the local business community and private individuals. The rain date for all events is July 5. For more information call Carson Mader at 570/253-5492 or visit honesdale.com.

New location for raceway fireworks

THOMPSON, NY — The annual fireworks display that has always been held at Monticello Raceway will take place this year at the Town of Thompson Park just off Old Liberty Road.

“Monticello Raceway does not want to discontinue the service they have provided to our community and visitors for many years by conducting a splendid display of fireworks on July 4th weekend. They have donated and paid for the display to be held at our wonderful Town Park instead of their usual location at Monticello Raceway,” said Thompson Supervisor Tony Cellini. Monticello Fire Department will sponsor a barbeque before the display.

For more information call Cellini at 845/794-2500 ext. 306.

The fun is all about food

LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY — The annual Livingston Manor Strawberry Festival and the Livingston Manor Presbyterian Church Chicken Barbecue will take place on Saturday, July 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Water Wheel Junction, Main Street.

The barbecue will be served from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m., or until sold out. The cost is $8.50. Limited seating is available.

Other activities and attractions include music, fresh strawberries, hotdogs, desserts and arts and crafts vendors.

‘Birth of Liberty’ at Orange Square

PORT JERVIS, NY — The Minisink Valley Historical Society with the City of Port Jervis will sponsor a program on Sunday, July 4 at 7:00 p.m. at Orange Square called “The Birth of Liberty” that will include a reading aloud of The Declaration of Independence. A processional of the readers will begin at Fort Decker at 127 West Main Street at 6:15 p.m.

A program of history and music by the Fife and Drummers of the Broome Street Band will review the events surrounding the Declaration of Independence.

Orange Square is one of the city’s most hallowed places, being the site of the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean and Vietnam War memorials. The park has been a gathering place since the 1830s when the land was donated to Port Jervis by the D & H Canal Company.

In the event of rain or exceptionally hot and humid weather the program will take place across the street at the Drew United Methodist Church at 49-51 Broome Street.

For more information call 845/856-2375 or visit minisink.org.

Chamber music caps festivities

LIBERTY, NY — The Village of Liberty and the Greater Liberty Chamber of Commerce have scheduled holiday events on July 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Main Street. Enjoy music, food, a sidewalk sale, entertainment, crafts and flea market.

Highlights include a parade at 12:00 noon, children’s stories at 12:30 p.m., Poet Laureate Walter Keller at 1:00 p.m., rock’ n roll with The Van-Twistics at 1:15 p.m. and Weekend of Chamber Music preview and concert at 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. For more information call 845/292-1878.