Clear skies forecast for Fourth
Parades, carnival highlight holiday weekend
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Local Fourth of July festivities already are under way and promise to end with a bang.
With parades, fireworks, carnivals and other special activities scheduled, it's shaping up to be an eventful weekend.
"You want children to remember the Fourth of July, and the reason why it's important," said Carol Scott, organizer of the Southold Village Merchants' 12th annual Fourth of July parade. "It's a very happy, festive time, and it's a great way to show patriotism for our country."
The Southold parade steps off at 11 a.m. Saturday at Boisseau Avenue and continues west along Main Street, ending at Tuckers Lane. Traditional marchers like volunteers from the Southold Fire Department will be joined this year by members of Southold Town's new entry in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League, the North Fork Ospreys.
New Suffolk's 17th annual Fourth of July parade begins at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Tuthill and New Suffolk roads and ends at the assembly point with the singing of "The Star Spangled Banner" and a reading of the Declaration of Independence. Later, parade-goers can enjoy free hot dogs and apple pie, and prizes will be awarded for the best floats.
"It's a big community event," said Pat McIntyre, chairwoman for the parade. "Everybody comes out, and anybody can march in it."
Riverhead's annual fireworks display goes off at 9 p.m. Saturday at Grangebel Park. (Rain date is Sunday).
And if you're thinking of ditching the professionals to set off your own fireworks, you might want to think twice.
"Our policy on fireworks is to enforce New York State penal law," said Captain Martin Flatley of the Southold Police Department. "If it's just a family shooting off a couple of bottle rockets in their backyard, then we'll just tell them to stop. But if someone has a major display of fireworks, then sometimes we have no other option than to make an arrest."
Although thunderstorms were forecast earlier in the week, the weather is expected to clear up by July 3 and 4, just in time for the fireworks.
bdegnan@timesreview.com
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