X

Still a lot to do on this final day of Potsdam Summer Festival

Posted 7/11/15

By MATT LINDSEY POTSDAM -- The final day of the 48th Potsdam Summer Festival will feature Laser tag, a parade, the firemen’s run the river, musical acts, car and craft show, inflatable rides and …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Still a lot to do on this final day of Potsdam Summer Festival

Posted

By MATT LINDSEY

POTSDAM -- The final day of the 48th Potsdam Summer Festival will feature Laser tag, a parade, the firemen’s run the river, musical acts, car and craft show, inflatable rides and concessions today.

Other festival highlights include the Orchestra of Northern New York’s Junque sale, police department auction, and the “rubber ducky pluck.”

“The first block of Market Street will be again be blocked off to traffic and there will be a main stage with musical performances,” according to Potsdam Chamber of Commerce executive director Marylee Ballou.

New York Bounce Houses, based out of central New York, will debut Laser tag Saturday night in Ives Park from 8 p.m. to midnight. The rain location is Pine Street Arena.

“The cost for people to participate in the laser tag will be $5 per game,” Ballou said.

The chamber will sell pre-sale tickets for Laser tag July 6 through July 11 at noon.

There will be eight to 10 two-person teams who will compete against each other at the same time on the course.

A parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday near Old Snell Hall and will go down Elm Street to Market Street and back up Main Street ending near the Clarkson Inn. Judging will be held on Main Street.

School bands from Ogdensburg, Lisbon and Morristown have signed up to be in the parade and about 20 to 30 floats and organizations are expected to join.

“The best viewing spots will be on Elm and Main Streets…there are three marching bands who will perform twice each,” Ballou said.

At 7 p.m., following the parade, the Potsdam Volunteer Fire Department will continue the more than 100 year-old tradition of the “Run to the River.” Firefighters race to be the first to the Raquette River, fill their hoses with water and spray it to the enjoyment of the spectators. The event dates back to the early 1900’s.

“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 hired Riverside Sound from Massena to run the main stage sound system this year. This was made possible through a sponsorship by TJ Toyota of Potsdam.

A wide variety of musical entertainment will be at the Northern Music & Video main stage in the blocked off portion of downtown Market Street. Bands that appeal to all ages will perform every hour on the hour throughout the day, with longer acts at night.

.Music and entertainment on the main stage on Saturday will feature Big Papa, Sunday Rock Legacy, Lou Dacques Band, Bill Mechoir & Rebecca, Crescent Street Jame, Tye Dye, Microburst, a fashion show by Today;’s Hair & Day Spa, Northbound and We Build Tomorrow.

The craft show and car show will be back in their traditional location in Ives Park. The car show runs from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the south end of Ives Park. The craft show takes place near where the farmer’s market is held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are still openings for crafters.

Kids can burn off some energy from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Potsdam Elks where there will be several inflatable bounce houses including a huge water slide. There is no charge.

The Ives Park Gazebo will host live entertainment on Saturday starting at 9 a.m. with Yogi Strong. The New Horizons Band will play at 11 a.m., the Jack Kelley Big Band hits the stage from 12:15 to 1 p.m., Veils of the Nile will perform from 1:15 to 2 p.m. and Sweet Adelines will sing a cappela at 2:15 p.m.

Saturday things to do include the Potsdam Police Department auction on Hatch Road at 8:30 a.m., the Potsdam Rotary Clubs 18th annual “Rubber Duck Pluck” at 2:30 p.m. in Ives Park. Tickets go on sale starting at 9 a.m. The grand prize is $500.

Vendors and concessions will be held all day featuring fair-style food including hotdogs, hamburgers, fries, snow-cones, fried bread dough and more.

The Junque Sale will be held July 11 with proceeds benefiting the Orchestra of Northern New York. Held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pine Street Arena, 43 Pine St., this sale is billed as one of the largest garage sales in the North Country.

“We invite everyone to come out and enjoy all we have to offer throughout the weekend and to check out the Potsdam Summer Festival Facebook page for up-to-date information,” Ballou said.

Info: https://www.facebook.com/PotsdamSummerFest.