July 4th, 2009 in Findley Lake NY

Time is just flying by and plans are falling into place for the annual Independence Day celebrations in Findley Lake. This year, July 4th falls on a Saturday and the whole day can be spent downtown, enjoying all this small town has to offer.

Starting around 11 AM, the Findley Lake Volunteer Fire Department will be hosting their ever popular BBQ Chicken. My motto for that is "if you wait, you'll be late" as they sell out surprisingly early. Meals can be eaten there or you can get take-out. Money raised benefits the Fire Department.

If BBQ Chicken isn't what you are hungering for there are plenty of restaurant options in and just outside of town. Gourmet sandwiches, pizza, wings, steaks or ribs, beer, wine, bar options, all can be found so no one needs to go hungry.

While shopping, be sure to pick up your entry for the Duck Race. The race will start at 12:30 PM when yellow rubber ducks are "released" from a starting line near the flume in the lake at the north end of the lake. With a rush, the ducks enter the flume tube and first duck past the finish line in the mill pond wins.

At 2 PM, the annual Boat Parade will take place. If you've never seen this before, there's plenty of excitement and laughter as boats, decorated for this year's theme of "College Football" circle the lake in a parade. It all starts down by the flume and as part of the public, you too can vote for the Grand Prize winner. A panel of judges will pick the first and second prize winners in the two classes, Motor Boat and Float Boat. Formerly organized by the Breter family, the Grand Prize winner will take home the Breter Traveling Trophy and a plaque. Trophies will be awarded in the two boat classes. Decorating the boats is taken seriously by Findley Lakers and many of the entries will have crews dressed in College Football outfits, playing favorite fight songs, and even some song and dance routines. This is truly a family event and enjoyable for everyone.

Check on the sandwich board outside of the Waterwheel Overlook to see the schedule for Nature Center tours. If you've never seen the world class exhibit of animal mounts, this is a great thing to do with children.

At 9:30 PM homeowners along the lake shore will light flares along the water's edge. By this time, dusk is beginning to turn into night and the red ring of flares trimming the lake are one of the most amazing sights. Then promptly at 10 PM, the first firework goes off and the Findley Lake Fireworks display starts a non-stop 20 minute show that draws people for 20+ miles around. The best views of the fireworks are from downtown near the flume and gazebo, along North Road to School Street, and along the stretch of Mann Road from the blinker to the first farm. If you have a boat on the lake, viewing is especially nice out in the middle of the north pond. Don't forget that due to high usage, access to the lake will be restricted over the holiday and the ramp will be closed starting on Friday. To help defray the cost, donations can be made to the Findley Lake Fireworks Fund and mailed C/O Matters of the Hearth, 2842 Rt. 426, Findley Lake, NY 14736.

After the end of the fireworks, it's pleasant to stay and chat with friends (new and old). Many of the visitors who brought their children need to get them home to bed so we like to wait until the traffic clears out before heading home.