Area residents wanting to celebrate the Glorious Fourth on Wednesday will not be left wanting for options. In addition to the usual fireworks, local Independence Day celebrations will include a militia muster, live music, lawn games and a fishing derby and lively debates in the fashion of 1776.
The following are several of the July Fourth events planned for the region. Unless otherwise noted, events are on Wednesday:
Cobleskill
The Schoharie County July Fourth celebration will take place starting at 2 p.m. at the Schoharie County Fairgrounds at 113 Sunshine Drive. The celebration will feature rides, vendors, games, crafts, karaoke, music, dancing and a parade at 5 p.m.
For more information, call Maggie at 231-2076 (parade) or Jacqui at (518) 296-8122 (fairgrounds).
Cooperstown
The Farmers' Museum will celebrate Independence Day with a 1776-style militia muster and other vintage entertainments. The Declaration of Independence will be recited on the village green at 1 p.m. Traditional 19th-century music will be performed throughout the day. Period demonstrations of blacksmithing, printing, open-hearth cooking and children's crafts will take place throughout the day.
The museum, on state Route 80, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For information, visit farmersmuseum.org or call 547-1450.
The Cooperstown Volunteer Fire Department will have its annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration over Otsego Lake on Saturday, at about 9 p.m. The Cooperstown Community Band will perform in Lakefront Park at 8 p.m.
The Otsego Land Trust will also host a holiday celebration from 5 p.m. to dusk on Saturday, featuring croquet and refreshments, at Brookwood Point. those who attend are invited to watch the fireworks from the site. For more information, call 547-2366 or email marcie@otsegolandtrust.org.
East Meredith
Hanford Mills Museum will host an old-fashioned Fourth of July Independence Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to demonstrations of the waterwheel, sawmill and vintage woodworking machines, museum staff will run the boiler and steam-powered engine. The John Hanford Farmhouse, which recreates home life in the 1920s, will also be open to tour.
According to a media release from the museum, a popular feature of the Independence Day celebration is ice cream, made with ice collected at the museum's February Ice Harvest.
Free samples will be available.
There will be a children's fishing derby on the Mill Pond from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with prizes awarded for the largest fish. There also will be sack races, tug-of-war, and frog-jumping contests at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. For more information,visit hanfordmills.org.
Margaretville
The annual Firemen's Carnival will start at 10 a.m. daily Tuesday through Saturday in Village Park, with fireworks on Wednesday and Saturday, and a fireman's parade on Saturday to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Margaretville Fire Department. Events will include carnival rides and games, food, music and more. Fire companies from around the state are expected to attend. For information, call Don Bramley at (845) 586-3311.
Oneonta
The Hometown Fourth of July celebration in Oneonta will run from noon to 9:30 p.m. in Neahwa Park, with two stages of live music and dance, as well as games, demonstrations, a farmers' market, face painting, baseball and visits from the Binghamton Zoomobile, the RoboKronos team, Wildlife Alive Wild Birds and Oneonta's women's roller derby team, the Derailing Darlings. The Greater Oneonta Historical Society will present self-guided walking tours of the park's monuments from 1 to 5 p.m. Tour sheets will be available at the GOHS table near the historic Red Caboose. For more information about the GOHS program, call 432-0960.
The live music schedule is as follows:
Noon: Welcome by Mayor Miller
12:05 p.m.: Whitestone
12:30: Sgt. Peppers Phony Hearts Club Band
1: Declaration of Independence reading
1:15: SkyanI
1:45: Sgt. Peppers Phony Hearts Club Band
2:14: Heaven's Back Door
3: Mario Speedwagon
3:30: SkyanI
4: Mario Speedwagon
4:30: Heaven's Back Door
5: Samurai Pizza Cats
6: Richie and Rosie
7: Horseshoe Lounge Playboys
8: Driftwood
9: Fireworks
For more information, visit www.hometown4th.com www.facebook.com/hometown4th.
Also in Oneonta on Wednesday, teen actress Peyton List of the Disney Channel program "Jessie" will meet with fans and sign autographs at the Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center. List's appearance will be preceded by performances by contestants from the Oneonta Junior Idol singing competition from noon to 1 p.m. List will meet with fans from 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door. For information, visit foothillspac.org.
Schoharie
The Old Stone Fort Museum will celebrate Independence Day with a variety of patriotic activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Museum staff will read the Declaration of Independence and other documents of the time, and re-enact spontaneous protests and debates under the Liberty Pole. These outdoor activities are held on the museum grounds at no charge.
Inside the museums, exhibits on the Revolutionary War, the Civil War 150th Anniversary, and the Schoharie County Arts Council Members Art and Craft Exhibit are included for the regular museum admission price.
Document readings are scheduled at 11 am. and 2 p.m., and protests or debates may occur at any time throughout the day.
Also on Wednesday, the Iroquois Indian Museum is holding its Early Technology Day.
The Old Stone Fort Museum Complex is off state Route 30 in Schoharie. For information, call (518) 295-7192, or visit www.theOldStoneFort.org or Facebook.com/OldStoneFort.
Springfield
The 98th annual Springfield Fourth of July Parade will begin at 11 a.m. with the theme of "Celebrate," presided over by Grand Marshals Florence Brown and Frank VanAuken, and announced by Fred Culbert.
A celebration will follow at the Springfield Community Center, featuring live music, food, a quilt show, carnival games, a cake walk, raffles, face painting and photos with Lady Liberty and Uncle Sam. The Springfield Community Center is at 137 County Highway 29A in Springfield Center. Free parking will be available for the parade and celebration at this location and at Ryerson Field on Public Landing Road.
For information, email Springfield.July4@gmail.com or call Deb Miller at (315) 858-0304.
