POTSDAM -- The Potsdam Summer Festival will take place July 9 to 11 in downtown with some changes and additions including the hiring of a new sound company to run the main stage, art show, alternate parade route and laser tag.

“There certainly is going to be a Potsdam Summer Festival this year,” said Potsdam Chamber Executive Director Marylee Ballou. “The first block of Market Street will be blocked off to traffic and there will be a main stage with musical performances.”

“Since the closing of Northern Music, the chamber had been working through the winter to find someone to run the sound,” she said.

“The chamber has hired Riverside Sound to run the main stage sound system this year. This was made possible with a generous main stage sponsorship by TJ Toyota of Potsdam,” she said.

The main stage schedule of performers is complete and will be made public through the Potsdam Summer Festival Facebook page, local radio interviews, and the Summer Festival Tabloid that is distributed in North Country This Week.

So far, performances are made possible through the sponsorships of the following local businesses: Brick & Mortar Music, Chilly Delight, City Electric, Collegiate Village of Potsdam, Dr. Stacey Howlett DDS, Enbridge Gas, Jreck Subs, Maple Run Emporium, National Grid, Potsdam Food Co-op, Rose & Kiernan, Save A Lot, SeaComm FCU, Stewarts, St. Lawrence Health System, St. Lawrence Radiology, and The Clarkson Inn.

There will also be many returning favorites including live music, car show, crafters, vendors, food and more.

The craft show and car show will be back in their traditional location in Ives Park. Last year, there was change in location as the park was going through renovations, but that is now complete. There are still openings for crafters in the park on Saturday, July 11.

Many other familiar Summer Festival events will also be occurring: Potsdam Rescue Squad ice cream Social with the Norwood Brassmen Firemen performance, the Tour de Potsdam Walk/Run, the Potsdam Elks chicken barbeque, an evening performance by the Potsdam Community Band, the outdoor movie, Outer Market Mania, the bouncy houses at the Potsdam Elks, sidewalk sales, and the parade.

“The parade route is still being determined…as the route we have been using the last couple of years is not possible with the bridge work. We may just go back to the older route for this year, but after a meeting this Thursday that will be confirmed. So far, we tentatively have three marching bands scheduled to participate. We still need more groups to participate and volunteers to help with traffic control,” she said.

There are a couple of new events being added during the Potsdam Summer Festival this year. The St. Lawrence County Arts Council will hold an Arts Market in Ives Park on Friday July 10 from noon until 6 p.m. They will also have an exhibit opening Friday, July 10, from 4:30 until 6:30 p.m. at the Potsdam Town Hall. The exhibit titled “Remixing Imagination” is a collection of photography, digital art, and mixed media by Suzan McDermott.

The Potsdam Chamber has also contracted to have Laser Tag in Ives Park on Saturday night, July 11, from 8 p.m. to midnight.

“There will be a charge for people to participate in the laser tag,” Ballou said.

“The Potsdam Chamber is committed to the festival and is looking forward to this year’s and to our 50th anniversary festival in 2017,” she said.

Any inquiries about the festival can be directed to the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce at 274-9000.