At the southern end, music lovers listened to Michael Shofi, Moment’s Notice and Spring Street play a mix of folk, jazz and rock at the Sunset Stage bandshell on the shore of Raquette Pond, the second show in Tupper Arts’ Summer Sunset Concert Series.

To the north, children crawled over every inch of the playground at Flanders Park. Older teens hung out at the basketball courts, shooting hoops, riding bikes and setting off small firecrackers.

The grandstands of the park’s baseball field were packed as Tupper Lake’s team, the Riverpigs, took home a win against the Plattsburgh Thunderbirds, 7-2. It was a fast-paced game with a home run by Drew Thomas in a late inning, driving in three runs for the Riverpigs.

Tailgaters set up early in the parking lot to hang out before the fireworks show, playing cornhole, Kan Jam, grilling and tossing frisbees in the grass. The Zerbini Family Circus tents bookended the north end of the park, with balancing performers, ponies and other dazzling sights.

From left, members of Spring Street, Ed Schaum, Josh Pratt, Valerie Rogers and Wayne Davison perform at the Sunset Stage in Tupper Lake on the Fourth of July. They played a mix of classic rock, including Pink Floyd and Bruce Springsteen. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Cerbone)

“We saw a Transformer car!” Jake O’Reilly said as he played Trouble with his family in the grass, waiting for the fireworks to begin.

Before the fireworks show even started the park was flush with smoke and sparks as people there, and in nearby neighborhoods, set off fireworks big and small.

Sean Conley was camping at Fish Creek with friends and family and said they all came for the fireworks, as they do every year.

“This weekend’s been kind of crummy with weather, so having today be the nicest day has been awesome,” Conley said.

A crowd gathered to watch the explosives from boats, cars and trees.

Above, Drew Thomas hits a home run for the Riverpigs, driving in two runners on bases, at the Tupper Lake team’s July 4th home game against the Plattsburgh Thunderbirds. The Riverpigs won 7-2. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Cerbone)

The show seemed to end early, without a finale, and people started to drive out of the park. But after a few minutes of silence, the field again erupted with fireworks. The delayed finale came as a surprise to many.

Tupper Lake resident Rick Donah was driving his brother back to the dock near where the fireworks were set up when the last burst shot up in the air.

“It almost gave me a cardiac event,” Donah said.

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Music

At left, a crowd filled the grandstands and spilled out into the park to watch the Riverpigs play the Plattsburgh Thunderbirds on the Fourth of July. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Cerbone)

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The bandshell brought in a crowd all day long.

“I think everybody’s ready to celebrate,” Tupper Arts Director Louise McNally said.

People grilled burgers while the music played, brought in stacks of pizzas, and dined on wine and cheese.

“It feels like Battery Park in New York City,” McNally said. “Families, music, games, isn’t this great?”

Children run the bases after a Tupper Lake Riverpigs versus Plattsburgh Thunderbirds game on the Fourth of July in Tupper Lake. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Cerbone)

She had just visited her grandchildren in the city and was struck with the similarity between Tupper Lake’s park and Battery Park in the city’s Upper Bay.

Spring Street lead singer Valerie Rogers told the crowd it was so nice to play for a live audience again after 15 months of virtual shows.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Tupper Arts member and High Peaks Opera Artistic Director George Cordes said.

He booked this season’s bands and said he tried to bring back the same lineup of acts that were cancelled last summer because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Throughout the summer, Tupper Arts will host a mix of music at the bandshell, ranging from rock and folk to opera and Shakespeare performances.

From left, Brasen LaVassaur, Josh Facteau, Nick O’Neill and Zach Boyer spent July 4th playing cornhole and watching the Riverpigs baseball game at a tailgate they set up at the Municipal Park. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Cerbone)

“That’s what I feel proudest about, bringing in a wide variety,” Cordes said. “There’s kind of something for everyone.”

John Dalton came from Lake Clear to listen to his friend Wayne Davison play bass with Spring Street and said the venue was beautiful, with water and mountains in the background.

Scott and Tara Belecz, of Rochester, made their annual trip to Tupper Lake to meet up with friends Ellen and Mike Bonheim, from Connecticut. They enjoyed the music at the bandshell while their five kids played in the park nearby.

Tara and Ellen are childhood friends who met when their families would camp at Fish Creek in the summers. Now, they bring their children to hang out in the Adirondacks together.

They stayed at a cottage in Cranberry Lake, but said it is tradition for them to attend Tupper Lake’s fireworks show. This year, they showed up for the whole day because of the bands playing.

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Baseball

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Riverpigs fans cheered and chanted their team on to victory.

Empire League President Eddie Gonzalez said with the team finally playing games in Tupper Lake, “it’s been the best it’s ever been.”

Bethany Harte was there with her sons Liam and Lincoln. Both loved the game and Liam got his hat signed by some of the players. Harte is from Malone and said word is getting around about the professional baseball team, so she wanted to bring her kids.

“It was great,” Jenifer Larson said of the game. “Beautiful day and the Riverpigs won.”

Larson owns Lakeview Lanes and said players have been going there to eat, bowl and, of course, watch baseball games.

“Great group of guys,” Larson said. “We’ve been having fun with them, so I came up to watch the game.”

Carter Kenniston, who plays in a 16-and-under baseball league in Lake Placid, said the team played a good game.

“We’ve never had (a professional team) before, so getting the team out here, they’ve been fun to watch,” he said.