By MATT LINDSEY

Several towns throughout St. Lawrence County will celebrate the nation’s independence with fireworks and celebrations.

Norwood will host the largest parade in St. Lawrence County as well as live music and a field day. Hannawa Falls and Gouverneur will host firework displays to celebrate.

St. Lawrence Centre in Massena plans live music, activities for kids, fireworks and more on July 3. And Morristown will put on its annual “night before” July 4 fireworks display as well.

Norwood

The 79th annual Norwood Fire Department Field Day events begin July 3 on the Village Green with music and will continue July 4 with the largest parade in St. Lawrence County and fireworks at dusk.

“This is the number one fundraiser for the fire department…it carries us through the year,” said Tim Donohue, treasurer for the Norwood Volunteer Fire Department.

The Norwood Brass Firemen will offer a concert in the park July 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. The concert is free for the public to enjoy. A pass of the hat will benefit the Norwood Volunteer Fire Dept.

Games of chance, food and legal beverages will be offered at the fire hall.

Back Draft will play the traditional block dance in front of the fire hall from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Admission is $2 at the gate.

On July 4 a parade featuring 70 to 80 units will begin at 1 p.m. on Maple Street. Participants will travel down Spring Street ending at the Fireman’s Field, Morgan Street.

The parade will include 17 fire departments, 3 rescue squads, between 18-25 floats, antique cars, ATV’s, motorcycles, trucks and more.

Last year’s parade was viewed by around 5,000 to 7,000 people, according to Donohue.

The parade theme is “Once upon a time.” There will be 61 U.S. flags displayed along the parade route. Norwood firemen have over 850 hand-held American flags to share with parade viewers about 30 minutes before the parade. When a donation of any size is placed into the fireman’s boot, the spectator will be given a flag to wave during the parade.

Youth and church groups along with many civic and area businesses help to support this 1 1/2 hour parade.

Cubby T. Clown and Co. will also offer face painting and animal balloon sculpturing before and during the parade at the Village Green.

Following the parade, festivities at the Morgan Street Firemen’s Field start with a demolition derby at 2:30 p.m. followed by garden tractor races.

These tractors reach speeds up to 50 miles per hour on an oval track specially built by Haggett Excavation, according to Donohue.

“There will be six heats both the demolition derby and tractor races. Trophies and cash awards will be awarded to winners,” Donohue said.

Two free live shows from the Cubby T. Clown and Co. will be take place at 5 and 7 p.m. These will be two different live shows.

“New this year will be pony rides for the kids and a petting zoo,” Donohue said.

Those will be available at the field day. Food and beverages will be offered all day long.

This annual field day will end with one of the biggest firework displays in St. Lawrence County.

“About 4,000 people line the streets and roads to watch the fireworks,” Donohue said.

This fireworks display costs the Norwood Fire Dept. over $5,500. Donations for these fireworks can be made to Norwood Vol. Fire Department, PO Box 231, Norwood, NY 13668. Perry’s Big M has donated $1,000 for these fireworks.

Massena

The St. Lawrence Centre mall on State Highway 37 will celebrate Independence Day Thursday, July 3, with live music, pony rides, bounce house, fireworks and more.

An outdoor concert of live musical performances by 14 Knuckles Later, Long Time Gone and Playback will be featured from 5 to 9 p.m. Blind Andy from 101.5 The Fox will guest MC the event.

Kids can enjoy bounce houses from BD Entertainment from 4 to 9 p.m., pony rides from Breezy Maple Farms from 4 to 9 p.m. and free face painting by Belly Buttons the Clown will be available from 5 to 9 p.m.

Mix 96. 1 will broadcast live from 4 to 7 p.m., Mr. Ding-A-Ling will sell ice cream from 4 to 10:30 p.m. and there will be free public skating and free skate rentals for children at the St. Lawrence Centre Arena from 7:15 to 9:30 p.m.

Adults can enjoy a “beverage garden” provided by Vino Vidi Cici from 4 to 10:30 p.m. The Massena Rescue Squad and volunteer fire department will hold demonstrations from 5 to 8 p.m.

Majestic Fireworks will provide the “largest fireworks display in St. Lawrence County” around 10:15 p.m.

Morristown

In Morristown, a fireworks display takes place July 3 at dusk at fireman’s field, just off State Highway 37 in Morristown.

The annual Steve Spilman Memorial July 4 Parade will take place at 10 a.m. and will travel down Main Street.

After the parade at the fire station there will be an antique tractor pull, games for kids, games of chance for adults and raffles. Food will including a chicken barbeque and a fire department concession stand that will serve a variety of food including hamburgers, hotdogs, sausage, French fries, bread dough, sno-cones, cotton candy and beverages.

Music will be provided Pete Paquette and Bryan VanArnam on the July 3 and 4.

Department members will be out collecting donations to help pay for the fireworks on all streets. The fireworks have been sponsored by local businesses and organizations.

Hannawa Falls

In Hannawa Falls, the 30th annual Robert Plumb Memorial Fireworks will be held at dusk, Saturday July 5 at Postwood Park.

Viewing spots are available along State Highway 56.

Gouverneur

The Gouverneur Fire Department will host a fireworks show at the fairgrounds on Friday, July 4 at dusk. Food and beverages will be available.