BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG — Ogdensburg International Seaway Festival continues through the weekend with live music, fireworks and a parade still to come.

A fireworks display co-sponsored by NorthStar Alliance and Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center and the annual parade will serve as the festival’s finale, but there is plenty more to enjoy before then.

Over the last week the city’s seen hundreds turn out for live music and firefighter’s games and a craft and wine fair.

The event traditionally draws hundreds from around the county and across the border to the small city and has long served as the city’s homecoming where many who moved away visit to enjoy the events with relatives and friends.

On Monday Ogdensburg Mayor Michael Tooley urged citizens to partake in the festivities.

"Seway Festival is off to a great start this past weekend. I encourage our citizens and visiting guests to take advantage of and enjoy the many activities scheduled this week though the hardwork of the volunteers of the Seaway Festival Committe," he said at recent city council meeting.

Organizer Chris Lalone says the committee is always working to make things bigger and better, but to continue growing the event they need public support in both donations and volunteers. He and others on the Seaway Festival committee have grown and bolstered events like RiverFest and craft fairs to help offset the costs associated with the festival.

Anyone looking to support the event can offer time or donations, but other ways to help include purchasing merchandise.

He said buttons and t-shirts are still available at locations throughout the city including Community Bank, St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union and Ed-Med FCU. Larger sizes available at River Rat Designs.

They can also be purchased online at https://www.ogdensburgseawayfestival.org/merchandise/ Special orders for hoodies and tanktops are also available.

Coming up tonight is a dunk booth in library park at 5:30 p.m. Jaynie Trudell will perform in the gazebo at 6 p.m.

The Seawayfest concerts in the park continue on Friday, July 26 with a performance by Shandi Gardner on the main stage in Library Park. Dawn and Dave Merz will provide music at 5 p.m. from the gazebo. 

There will be train rides from 5-10 p.m. near the Dobisky Center. 

The band Common Revolution will perform on the library park Main Stage at 7 p.m. 

The night caps off with the annual Fireworks Spectacular at 7 p.m. 

The Seaway Festival Parade will step off on July 27 at 11 a.m. on Ford Street. 

The final day of the festival, July 28, gets started at 9 a.m. with a Seaway Cruisers car show at Fort de la Presentation at 9 a.m. 

A craft and farmers market will be held on city property at Lighthouse Point at 11 a.m. 

The duck race will be held at Ogdensburg City Pool at 11 a.m.

The petting zoo will be set up at Lighthouse Point at noon. 

The battle for the strongest team starts at noon at the volleyball court when the Tug of War ensues. 

The Ogdensburg Moose Lodge will host a cornhole tournament at 1 p.m. 

Finally the annual Seaway Festival 3-On-3 Basketball Tournament at Morrisette Park will start at 2 p.m. 

 For more information about events, volunteering or sponsorship opportunities visit www.ogdensburgseawayfestival.org .