Independence Day Celebrated With Family Fun
On Friday, July 4th, Clermont State Historic Site will celebrate Independence Day with an event crammed full of nostalgic Independence Day fun and games. The event will begin at 12 pm and run until dusk with kids’ contests and crafts, live music, story telling, free treats, and rebellious English Colonists! For a cost of only $7 per vehicle, families can enter the festival grounds for an entire day’s worth of excitement, culminating in an exquisite view of the Saugerties fireworks after dark.
The Old-Fashioned Independence Day will kick off at 12:00 on Clermont’s backyard with the Revolutionary War re-enactors of the 1st Ulster County militia and Her Majesty’s 16th Regiment raise a Liberty pole, an early form of political protest. Political unrest will fester with boisterous debates and an effigy of King George for the rest of the day between the Patriots and the Loyalists. Stick around to watch the action until it finally comes to a head at 5pm with a reading of the Declaration of Independence and a showdown between the two factions. 
In the meantime, visitors can enjoy historic music by the Headless Horseman Fife and Drum Corps, stories and songs for children by Tom Hanford, and the always-popular Punch & Judy Show by Fred Greenspan. These top-notch performers come from around New England to enliven the historic festival.
Also new this year is a “Please Touch” booth for kids where they can pick up and play with reproduction artifacts just like those they see in 
the museum. Clermont’s museum curator will be on hand to tell them about the objects and how they were used. Kids can even try historic games and try on costumes from in the style of late eighteenth century.
Nostalgic contests for kids 12 and under will take place at 12:30. A watermelon seed spitting contest, three-legged race, and “Grinning for Cheese” will all give kids a chance to take home a prize.
Finally, from 8pm until dusk The Providers will perform classic soul and rock music to take visitors into the night. Dancing and picnicking are encouraged while you wait for a view of the Saugerties fireworks after dark. Those patrons who wish to see the firework
s are encouraged to come early as the park will close its gates when capacity is reached.
Click here for our Old-Fashioned Independence Day Events Schedule.
For more information on the Old-Fashioned Independence Day event, or being a vendor or a volunteer, please call Kjirsten at (518) 537-4240. For more information about Clermont or the Friends of Clermont, please visit us online at www.friendsofclermont.org.
We would like to express our gratitude to Stewart's Shops for their support and sponsorship of Clermont's Old-Fashioned Independence Day celebration! |
 |
Copyright ©2008, Friends of Clermont