Looking for 2013 fireworks? Check out our Catskills Fourth of July Guide here. -- Ed
Photo via Flickr user bayasaa.
So many fireworks, so little time, so many miles to travel. If you're seeking the rockets' red glare this weekend, you can find it in all five Catskills counties, either as a stand-alone event or capping off other festivities. Here's our guide to finding Fourth of July festivities in Delaware, Greene, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster counties.
A few disclaimers: Some of the events we've linked to do not actually feature fireworks, so check the listings carefully if you're intent on treating yourself to the traditional 4th of July display. Also, we don't claim that this is a comprehensive listing. If you are the sponsor of an event we've missed, be sure to send us a press release or upload a listing into our calendar before you launch your next one.
In Delaware County:
- East Branch, NY. East Branch kicks off the weekend early with Baseball Day today. Fireworks are scheduled for Saturday night. Along the way there will be carnival rides, music, food and a town-sized yard sale.
- Margaretville Fireman's Field Days. Four days of carnival rides, food, music and a car show, this event features fireworks on two nights: Saturday, July 2, 10:15pm (rain date, July 3) and July 4, 9:45pm.
- Taste of the Catskills Festival. From 10 am, Saturday, July 2 and Sunday, July 3. This festival has events scheduled throughout both days of the weekend and will launch a fireworks display each night.
- Hanford Mills Independence Day Celebration. 10am to 5pm, July 4. No fireworks here, but plenty of other traditional fare, including ice-cream making, horse-drawn wagon rides, woodstove cooking, and — take note Mark Twain fans — a frog-jumping contest (it's BYOF).
In Greene County:
- Bear Creek Landing fireworks display, July 2, Hunter, NY. A restaurant and recreational park, Bear Creek will put on what it claims is the "state's finest" fireworks along with a day's worth of activities and indoor/outdoor dining.
- Catskill, NY, July 2. The fireworks will be shot at Cone-E-Island at dusk; Steppin' Out will provide live music. The day will mark the end of the 'Bing Bang Boing' exhibition, which began June 25. It features musicians performing on hand-made instruments; the performance will open up to all comers as a drum circle. A parade begins at 11am on Main Street.
- East Durham, NY, July 2. Activities begin with a parade a the Quill Festival Grounds and continue through fireworks, which begin at 9:15pm.
- 4th of July at Windham Mountain, Windham, NY. Windham Mountain will keep its zipline and Skyride open from 11am to 8pm. There will be a parade through town at 7pm, barbeque and a DJ, and fireworks at 9pm.
In Schoharie County:
- Schoharie County 4th of July Celebration, Cobleskill, NY, July 4, 3pm, fireworks at dark. Dinner, music and a parade are also on the bill, as well as one of the more distinctive regional attractions: At 4pm, the Fabulous Beekman Boys will organize the "World's Largest Model Walk" and distribute free boas to the first 500 participants.
In Sullivan County:
- Narrowsburg Celebrates America, Narrowsburg, NY, July 2-4, fireworks on July 3 at dusk. This three-day affair features a sock hop on Saturday night, fireworks Sunday and parade on the 4th at 3:30pm.
- Liberty Festival, Liberty, NY July 4. A day-long event, it begins at 10:30am with a classic car, motorcycle and tractor show and another slice of pure Americana: a hot-dog eating contest. The winner of the one-minute choke-down will take away $150. No fireworks.
In Ulster County:
- Independence Day Celebration, Highland, NY, Saturday, July 2. This gathering begins at 6pm and features food, music and hot air balloon rides. Highland Village Middle School Field, 71 Main Street, Highland, NY. For more information: 845-691-2144.
- New Paltz, NY, Saturday, July 2 5pm. Two bands — The Holmes Band and The Big Joe Fitz Band — will entertain until fireworks at dusk. Rain date is Sunday, July 3. For more information: 845-255-0604, ext. 1.
- Saugerties, NY, July 4, 8:30am to fireworks at dusk. The day starts early with an inspection of the town fire trucks, followed by a parade at 11:30am and a day-long carnival.
- Ellenville, NY, July 4, 9am to fireworks at dusk at Resnick Airport. The 4th kicks off here with an arts and crafts fair, followed by a noon parade through town. For more information: 845-647-6560, ext. 290.
