What An Amazing 2014 July 4th!

The Funky Karnaval Crew. Can you beat them?

The Funky Karnaval Crew. Can you beat them?

July 4th, 2014, will go down as one of the best. From the parade, the eye-popping floats, to the amazing range of all day activities -- for kids and adults --  good eats all over town, and drum-roll, please: the Fireworks Show.

And did we mention the weather: perfect conditions, with the threat of rain teasing us most of the day, but never delivering.

There were multiple highlights. This year seemed liked there were more activities than ever for kids in the Town Park. Mom and dads had their smart phones clicking as their kids scrambled up the rock wall and rung the bell.

The $10 all day bounce house pass seemed to be the deal of the day.

And the music delivered on the Lakeside stage was sensational, with Mark Piper, Hot Pursuit and the Gregson Brothers entertaining the crowd during the day.

Meanwhile, on Main Street, Larry and Liz McNamara’s front stoop at the Strand became mini rock concert venue, which was on tap to deliver more performances over the weekend.

Bob "Tito" Landy and his wife, Leslie Cohen, from Sharon, Massachusetts.

Bob "Tito" Landy and his wife, Leslie Cohen, from Sharon, Massachusetts.

“This is one great day, what a fantastic place Schroon is,” visitor Leslie Cohen told Schroon Laker.

“The more I see, the more I like it.”

Leslie and her husband Bob started the day hiking Mount Severance and ended it with a paddle down The Schroon River, putting at Route 74.

Their lunch consisted of Hot Dogs from the Lions Club Shack atop the beach, who were set to serve 1,300 Oscar Myer dogs. On the food front, the Community Church served up more than 300 chicken dinners!

This year folks had claimed their spots along the parade route early.

There were so many terrific floats this year, with crowd pleasing new additions of performers added to old favorites.

The Blues Brothers

The Blues Brothers

On the new faces front, the Brooklyn based Mariachi Tapatio de Alvaro Paulino band. wowed with their rendition of Ritchie Valens, La Bamba as they marched by us, had the crowd dancing. Seeing the returning Blues Brothers Band and the Funky Karnaval crew banging each other’s heads, always makes us happy!

Brooklyn based Mariachi Tapatio de Alvaro Paulino Band

Brooklyn based Mariachi Tapatio de Alvaro Paulino Band

And it was one happy fire crew from Ticonderoga, blasting out the hits from large speakers on the rigs, and lip syncing and dancing the afternoon away.

The Seagle Music Colony's Michael Hewitt, who stars in Camelot as Lancelot, aka "Lance"

The Seagle Music Colony's Michael Hewitt, who stars in Camelot as Lancelot, aka "Lance"

As the Seagle Music Colony float went by our crew, Wendy Ryan noticed the actor Michael Hewitt, who plays Lancelot in the Seagle’s Production if Camelot. “Lance, Lance Lance,” we all started shouting.  Michael soon caught on we were shouting at HIM, and he jumped in the air, as he shared what had happened with his fellow thespians.

As always, kids walked away with huge handfuls of candy, a lot of it from the Citizen of the Year, Joel Friedman, standing tall in Joe Steiniger’s Red Jeep.

As dusk fell, the Patriotic Music Concert by the Word Of Life Collegians and the Seagle Music Colony actors and singer wowed with a stirring performance, before the first firework lit the night sky. What a show!!!

What was your favorite part of the day? Tell us in comments!