Fireworks, food and festivities will be the highlight of this year’s Fourth of July holiday. Here’s a timeline of events to attend around Tompkins County.
Friday, July 4
The weather for the fourth should be optimal for outdoor activities with mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the low 80s. For evening firework shows, the temperature will dip into the lower 70s and upper 60s with clear skies.
The Inn at Taughannock Falls is hosting an Independence Day Party complete with a barbecue buffet and live music. While tickets for the party are sold out, the fireworks show is slated to start at 9:30 p.m. and is visible from Taughannock Falls State Park with public parking available.
The Finger Lakes Cider House will have live music featuring Motherwort. The music will run from 6 to 9 p.m. and requires a $5 cover charge with drinks and barbecue food options available for purchase. The website recommends that visitors bring chairs or a blanket.
Paddle-N-More is offering a guided fireworks tour on the waters launching from Myers Park to catch the best view of the Inn at Taughannock Falls’ fireworks show. Prices range from $45 to $65 with limited spots and advanced registration required.
Watkins Glen’s Clute Memorial Park will have a Fourth of July celebration that kicks off at 2 p.m. with live music, food and vendors. Branchport and Keuka Lake will host a parade starting at 2 p.m. and a fireworks display at 10 p.m.
Discover Cayuga Lake is hosting a family-friendly and educational afternoon Eco Boat Cruise on Cayuga Lake. While the July 4th date is sold out, the cruise is still available for Saturday.
Ithaca Boat Tours is operating a Sunset Boat Cruise on Friday, July 4, and Saturday, July 5, that will feature narration and a private fireworks show from the lake house.
Saturday, July 5
Hammondsport and Keuka Lake firehouse grounds host a Fireman’s Carnival Car Show between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. The event will feature kids’ fire truck rides starting at 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. and a Cruiz’n Time car show from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. At 10:30 p.m., the carnival will end with a fireworks show.
Sunday, July 6
To wrap up Independence Day weekend, there will be a fireworks show beginning at dusk at the Groton Elementary School Field. The event will include food trucks and a DJ.
Zeinab Faraj is a reporter from The Cornell Daily Sun working on The Sun's summer fellowship at The Ithaca Voice. This piece was originally published in the Ithaca Voice.
Zeinab Faraj is the assistant sports editor on the 143rd editorial board and a member of the class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. You can reach her at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.
