Celebrate America's 250th in the Adirondacks
Looking for that small-town feel to celebrate America’s 250th? Hamilton County has several to choose from! Each with their own decorated parades on land or water, carnivals, live music, BBQs, history, and of course, those radiant fireworks!
Twice the fireworks, twice the parades, twice the fun
Start the weekend off with a bang! Friday night fireworks launch off the point of Lake Pleasant in Speculator, and they will have your eyes glued to the sky. Uncle Sam I am, suggests watching them from a chair or stand and stare, watch them from a boat or a blanket, watch them any way you can make it!
Saturday, July 4th, is parade day!
At 10 a.m., the Parade of Boats around Piseco Lake. See the boats decked out in their patriotic finest.
At 7 p.m., Speculator’s 4th of July Parade is legendary! Head to town early and bring the kids! Grab an ice cream cone and get into viewing position because, as the anticipation builds, so does the crowd!
Finish the weekend with the second serving of fireworks, which will be dished up on Sunday at dark from Sherman’s point on Piseco Lake, where the best view is on the water!
Full day of festivities
The Town of Indian Lake is celebrating Independence Day with local flavor, music, and fireworks!
Ease into the day with some holiday shopping at the Farmers Market.
At 11 a.m. is the Flag Retiring Ceremony at the American Legion.
Then it’s full-throttle festivities beginning at 1 p.m. with a town block party!
Bounce houses, yard games, and music by DJ2T to keep you moving!
Food trucks will be on site or perhaps partake of the ILVFD’s Chicken BBQ.
Music by Mark Arsenault will bridge the block party excitement to parade vibes when the line marches at 7 p.m. from the Town Hall to Byron Park.
Final encore of festivities: fireworks at Byron Park!
History in real time
The Adirondacks—America’s first vacationland! Why not celebrate this historic event at the historic Great Camp Sagamore? Sagamore Seminars in History: The American Revolution at 250 will be taking place from June 28 to July 3. After class and during the downtime, participants can enjoy the Adirondack outdoor experience amongst Sagamore‘s carefully preserved 125-year-old buildings and grounds, “all while reflecting on a revolutionary story twice as old.”
Just down the road and docked in Raquette Lake is the famous double-decker WW Durant, which offers specialty themed and historical cruises, but on the evening of July 4th it can be your front-row seat to fireworks
over Raquette Lake! Join one of our local historians on Tuesday, June 30, as he steps back into the region’s proud Revolutionary War heritage by paying homage to one of Lake Pleasant’s earliest patriots at a special historical presentation and guided walk to Colonel Peck’s gravesite.
All-In(let) community celebrations
Inlet will be bustling from end to end with a whole town celebration!
First stop, Fern Park, which will be buzzing with fun and activity!
The morning begins with the American Legion’s flag raising and retirement ceremony with a special F-35 flyover!
Then get your game on with family-friendly competitions organized by the Inlet Youth Commission. Water balloon toss, sack races, and scavenger hunt, to name a few. Prizes and refreshments will be provided too!
From there, take a stroll through downtown where patriotic flair will be everywhere! Local businesses will be competing for the best-decorated display. Grab a coffee or maybe some gelato as you look for your favorite. When you find it, be sure to cast your vote!
Finally, make your way to Arrowhead Lakefront with your camp chair or blanket.
At 7:30 p.m., enjoy the entertainment by talented musician Jamie Notarthomas. Blending poetic lyricism with soul‑stirring vocals, his music transcends generations.
Followed by firework, launched from a barge on Fourth Lake!
Beach party USA!
America’s 250th Celebration on Long Lake brings the community together for a day filled with red, white, and blue spirit!
Games for all ages at the Long Lake Ballfield will get the day started, with fun the whole family will enjoy.
Then race over to the epicenter of events—the Long Lake Town Beach! Come prepared to stay the day!
4th of July Celebration begins at noon.
Red, white, and YUM! Grab a sweet treat with the Long Lake Lions Club strawberry shortcake! Get it before it’s gone!
Live music electrifies the atmosphere from 1–3 p.m. with Daydream Fountain.
Just in time to feed your hunger, the Long Lake Fire Department Cookout begins at 3 p.m. Support the local emergency crew and enjoy their best sausage and peppers!
Penelope the Clown joins the party at 4 p.m. with face painting and the ever-iconic balloon animals!
You’ll want to stay awake for this crazy race—the Bed Races return to the streets of Long Lake! Cheer on these teams with creative themes and beds instead of race cars, as they run to win their dream prize!
Grit and Grace take the stage with their unique blend of high-energy country, rock, and dance music for a show that everyone will enjoy! Rocking out from 6:30–9:30 p.m., they will keep you moving till the
fireworks start booming.At dark, fireworks will light up the sky! View from the beach, on a boat, or at Mt. Sabattis.
An ADK USA 250th summer
Celebrate the birth of America in the birthplace of America’s Vacationland, the Adirondacks! Hamilton County is the place to go for that small-town, big-celebration Independence Day experience! Whether you’re camping, day-tripping, a summer visitor, or a local, you won’t want to miss being here for the 4th of July. Two hundred fifty years is a big birthday, and the party doesn’t stop in July. Check out more ways to celebrate America’s 250th throughout the year in Hamilton County and the Adirondacks—we’d love to see you back!
