Cleremont 4th of July Celebration

On Saturday, July 4th Clermont State Historic Site will celebrate Independence Day with an afternoon event crammed full of nostalgic Independence Day fun and games. Designed with families in mind, this event will include music, stories, food by Spacey Tracy, and fun children’s crafts for just $8 per vehicle. Beginning at 3pm, the museum will host an array of these activities on its back lawn, with the event culminating in an exquisite view of the Saugerties fireworks reflected in the Hudson River after dark.

The Old-Fashioned Independence Day will kick off at 3:00pm with a visit from the Headless Horseman Fife and Drum Corps, who will march around the grounds, playing historic tunes from the 18th century. Children’s contests will commence promptly at 4:00 with Cherry Pit Spitting, a Three-Legged Race, and the hilarious Grinning for Cheese. Prizes will be awarded. At 5:30, story-teller Tom Hanford will perform a historically-inspired show full of music and audience participation that is sure delight young children and parents alike. Throughout the afternoon, children will also be able to play with 18th century games, including the Games of Graces, stilts, and rolling hoops. A crafts tent will teach children the “language of the fan” and allow them to decorate their own old-fashioned paper fan, as well make a Liberty Cap (to protest English rule in America), and design their own American flag. Vivacious face painting designs will be available by Barbara Arpante.

For older children and inquisitive adults, special tours of the historic Clermont mansion will run every half hour from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Inside, visitors will meet the marvelous Margaret Beekman Livingston, who rescued Clermont from the ashes in 1777, Chancellor Robert R. Livingston, her son, who helped to draft the Declaration of Independence, and a Germantown resident, pining for her soldier love. This tour lasts approximately 35 minutes, and will cost $5 for adults, $4 for seniors/students, children 12 and under are free.

Also at 6:00, a live demonstration entitled “Under Where?: Women’s Clothes in the 18th Century” will let visitors in on the secrets of women’s clothing from 250 years ago. The demonstration will be accompanied by an educational talk by Curator of Education Kjirsten Gustavson.

Finally, from 8pm until dusk The Providers will perform classic soul and rock music on the hills overlooking the Hudson River to take visitors into the night. Dancing and picnicking are encouraged while you wait for a view of the Saugerties fireworks after dark. Those patrons who wish to see the fireworks are encouraged to come early as the park will close its gates when capacity is reached. The price for entry after 8:00pm is $10 per vehicle.

For more information on the Old-Fashioned Independence Day event, or being a vendor or a volunteer, please call Kjirsten at (518) 537-4240. More information can be found at www.friendsofclermont.org.