COLTON -- This year the Town of Colton’s annual Colton Country Days celebration kicks off Sunday, July 17 and continues through Sunday, July 24.

Festivities being July 17 with the “Youth Fishing Derby,” now in its fourth year. Registration begins at 7 a.m. in the Pavilion at Swift Field in South Colton. Winners of raffles and prizes will be announced at 2 p.m. With sponsor support totaling more than $8,000, there will be lots of winners. For derby details call Kevin LaMora at 262-0899.

On Monday, July 18 at 10 a.m. the town will celebrate the opening of a new StoryWalk sponsored by Friends of Hepburn Library Colton on its John Stone Memorial Nature Trail located off Pleasant Street and County Route 58.

The public is invited to enjoy a quarter mile walk along the trail, stopping along the way to read posted pages from Turtle Splash: Countdown at the Pond by Cathryn Falwell. Refreshments will be available in the new picnic area.

StoryWalks provide opportunities for families, caregivers and school children to spend time in nature, get a bit of physical activity and enjoy a good book. The StoryWalk™ Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition (VBPC) and the Kellogg Hubbard Library.

“Barn Quilts Around Town” will be highlighted Tuesday, July 19 through a painting demonstration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in studio space at the back of White’s General Store where maps for a self-guided driving tour can be picked up throughout the day. From 2 until 4 p.m. refreshments will be available at Dale Rexford’s place on East Higley Road where several barn quilts on a back barn honor quilting and his wife who was a prolific quilter until her death last year. Maps will guide people to 40 barn quilts displayed around town on public and private buildings. For more info call Ruth McWilliams at 262-2450.

On Wednesday, July 20 from 3 to 5 p.m. in the town hall a series of three documentaries produced by WPBS about the Raquette River since 2012 will be shown. The documentaries include people, places, and events in the Colton as well as other communities along the river during all seasons of the year. Copies of WPBS’ triple pack DVD will be available to purchase for $15. Then starting at 6:30 p.m. the New Horizons Band of Northern New York will perform at the Green on Main Street. An ice cream social will be provided by St. Patrick’s – St. Paul’s Altar Rosary Society. If raining, then the event will take place in the Pavilion at Swift Field in South Colton.

Thursday, July 21 begins with ‘Tales of the Quest’ from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the town Hhll with town librarian Dennis Eickhoff talking about his travels throughout the Adirondacks to visit all 102 towns and villages in the Adirondack 102 Club book.

Copies of the guidebook will be available to purchase for $20.

Then from 5 to 7 p.m. BMX bicyclists will introduce people to the town’s new bike park along Pleasant Street. It is designed as a pump track for people of all ages to use. A new kiosk planned for the site will feature the park and the nearby John Stone Trail.

After the demonstration residents and visitors are invited to the first of three stage presentations of the musical “I Do! I Do! I Do! I Do!,” being performed at Colton-Pierrepont Central School.

The shows, take place on July 21 and 22 at 7 p.m. and July 24 at 2 p.m. in the handicap accessible and air conditioned auditorium.

Quilts made or owned by local quilters will be exhibited and incorporated into the show. Tickets are available at the door and in advance at White’s General Store (Colton), The TAUNY Center (Canton), and Brick and Mortar (Potsdam).

General admission is $10; student tickets are $5 each. Attendees wishing to experience theatre in the round can pay $10 more at the door to be seated on stage. Upgraded ticket holders also will receive a free commemorative shirt valued at $12 or $15, depending on the size.

On Friday a two-day used book sale begins at 10 a.m. in the old fire station on Riverside Drive, not in the Town Hall as done in previous years.

At 1 p.m. the St. Lawrence Mountain Bike Association will host a mountain bike ride on the new Lenny Trail System, starting at the kiosk off Lenny Road past the town’s Transfer Station. Riders of all levels are encouraged to participate, but all must bring a bike and wear a helmet.

On Saturday, July 23 traditional Colton Country Day activities begin at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at the Colton Methodist Church on Church Street. Registration for the frog-jumping contest is at 9:30 a.m. in front of Zion Episcopal Church. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. crafters and vendors will be set up along Main Street and a flea market and used book sale will take place in the fire stations.

Festival-goers will have plenty of food options including a chicken BBQ starting at 11 a.m. Between the bridges on Main Street there will be music sponsored by the Raquette River Pub from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The day’s activities also include the dedication of the new fire station at 10 a.m. and a whitewater release starting at 8 a.m. for expert kayakers to run the river.

Activities conclude at Firemen’s Field off Hanson Road with the annual ice cream social hosted at 7:30 p.m. before fireworks at dark.

The complete festival schedule is available at www.townofcolton.com. Updates are posted on three Facebook pages — Town of Colton, Colton Country Days/Colton Museum and The Sunday Rock Legacy Project. For more details call Cyndy Hennessy at 262-2524 or Scott Muller at 244-9956.