Games included a scavenger hunt and matching game for ages 5 and under followed up with games for all ages. Games include 3-legged races, sack races, crab walk and wheelbarrow walk, followed by an egg toss. Winners of each category receive tickets to visit the Long Lake prize booth and all participants in the egg toss receive a free ice cream cone from The Park or Custard’s Last Stand.

The Egg Toss saw more than 240 participants compete. The winners were Preston and Matt Wittmeyer, winning for the fourth time.

At 6:30 p.m. friends and family gathered at the Long Lake Town Beach to enjoy a concert by Grit N Grace, a country, pop and rock band from Syracuse, with Jackie Pop on vocals, Dave Brown on guitar and vocals, Bob Lett on bass and vocals, and Lincoln Tubbs on drums.

Town Supervisor Clay Arsenault opened up the event by welcoming everyone to the town beach after a very difficult year and reflecting on the meaning of July Fourth and celebrating our freedom, and independence. Director of Parks and Recreation, Alexandra Roalsvig, welcomed the band and thanked her crew, staff and business sponsors for their support of the event. The Long Lake Lions Club held a 50/50 raffle with prize winner Kristen and Christian Sorge taking home the prize.

Long Lake lifeguards and line judges Samantha Pickering, Lillian Dechene and Maria Inserra hold tickets for events. (Provided photo — Alex Roalsvig/Town of Long Lake)

Fireworks were shot in Long Lake by Chip Farr and Erik Arsenault and in Raquette Lake by Bill Pohl, Chris Burke and Kurt Murdock. The shows were powerful displays that wowed the socks off the audience with finales unsurpassed from previous years due to the generous donations by sponsors. Fireworks included smiley faces, special colorful multiple layered displays with mortars and a light show that dazzled and delighted the crowd for a nonstop eye-catching showcase.

Viewers in Raquette Lake watched from the Village Green, in boats, from the shoreline, on docks and from the deck of the W.W. Durant. The Raquette Lake Fire Department sold more than 200 tickets towards a fundraising raffle for their Fire Department Building project. Once the Fire Department reaches 2,500 tickets sold they will draw a winner.

Additional fireworks support in Long Lake was made possible by a generous contribution by John Hendrickson and Whitney Industries. Additional thanks to the Long Lake Town Board, George and Shirley Britton, Eastern Star Abenaque Chapter 745, Shortridge Landscaping, George Carruthers, Another Paradise Cove, Deerland Property Services and Stewart’s Shops. Special thanks to Raquette Lake Navigation and Pohl Construction for the use of their barge to stage the show in Raquette Lake.

Camryn Hosley and Pailin Hample laugh while participating in the 3-legged race. (Provided photo — Alex Roalsvig/Town of Long Lake)

Long Lake Events Coordinator Tim Helms lines up the wheelbarrow walk at the games for all ages. (Provided photo — Alex Roalsvig/Town of Long Lake)