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Independence Day celebrations continue this weekend in Norwood, Hannawa, Morristown, Gouverneur

Posted 7/4/14

By MATT LINDSEY The Independence Day weekend party continues today as parades and fireworks will be held in several towns throughout St. Lawrence County in celebration of the nation’s independence. …

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Independence Day celebrations continue this weekend in Norwood, Hannawa, Morristown, Gouverneur

Posted

By MATT LINDSEY

The Independence Day weekend party continues today as parades and fireworks will be held in several towns throughout St. Lawrence County in celebration of the nation’s independence.

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 weekend firework displays to celebrate. Morristown will host a parade.

Norwood

The July 4 celebration continues 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.

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.

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.

Morristown

The Morristown Fire Department celebrate Independence Day with the annual Steve Spilman Memorial July 4 Parade at 10 a.m.

The parade 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.

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.