The smell of bread dough mixes with barbecued something and fried onions as long lines form in front of any number of food trucks and live music pours out from a nearby pavilion.

Across the street, littered with melted and discarded sno-kones are faces stained with cotton candy, laughter from children in bounce houses and vendors hawking over-priced fair toys.

As a parent, dragging the kids through crowded streets at the height of summer heat admittedly has its drawbacks, but my nostalgia reminds me that it’s my job to help my kids experience that summer magic.

Potsdam recently wrapped up its summer festival, which drew hundreds out for free family fun despite sweltering heat and periods of rain.

Thousands of people recently attended parades and fireworks displays in Morristown and Norwood at two of the county’s largest Independence Day celebrations.

If you missed out on some or all of those events, there is still time to enjoy yourself at the Ogdensburg International Seaway Festival July 21-30.

If you’re an Ogdensburg resident or even from one of the adjacent towns, you may be expecting family members or visiting friends who’ve come up to enjoy the fanfare.

Being from Lisbon, I usually find myself hearing from an old friend or two who chose to plan their visit around Seaway Festival events. It’s long served as the city’s “homecoming” event, and many St. Lawrence County towns hold similar events. In particular, I’ve enjoyed Waddington’s homecoming many times over the years. And don’t forget about the Bassmasters fishing events.

I often hear complaints that there isn’t anything going on in St. Lawrence County. In my experience, that’s not really the case in the summer.

So, if you have a chance and life allows it, I encourage you to come out and attend one of the county’s biggest parades and fireworks displays around.

Bring your kids to the firefighters games, check out the classic car show, or just come out and enjoy one of the many musical performances.

It really is worth the trip.

One thing I’ve noticed this year in talking to organizers is volunteerism isn’t what it used to be and everything is more expensive.

So, if you’re someone who wants to see these events continue, whether it’s smaller but fun community events like Lisbon’s homecoming or Colton’s Lazy Hazy Days, or something bigger like Canton’s Dairy Festival or the Gouverneur & St. Lawrence County Fair, consider supporting at whatever level you can.

If you can lend your hands, that’s big. If you can afford a donation that’s big too. If you can spring for a shirt or 50/50 raffle ticket, a button or a duck, consider doing it. It all adds up.

If you want to make sure these summer events continue, please do what you can to keep them going.

I’d also like to thank the organizers for all of the events from Hammond’s Scottish Festival or Heuvelton’s Labor Day celebration to Massena’s Beachaplooza.

Without volunteers, we really might not have so much to do in St. Lawrence County, but I hope you keep bringing summer entertainment our way. I appreciate you.

Jimmy Lawton is news editor of North Country This Week and NorthCountryNow.com.