JULY 4TH INFORMATION FROM THE HPG BOARD
HPG is excited about our new format for the July 4th festivities this year. The Parade is always well attended but not everyone travels to James Street, especially if walking with children. By putting the blow ups and activities on Broadway they are next to the parade. The FREE Kid’s Zone bounce houses, crafters, DJ and food trucks will be open 11am-5pm on Broadway. The festival area will be a smoke and alcohol free zone. Our Cruize’n Time Car Show is also happening in the Center Street Parking Lot by the Pavilion. Registration starts at 8am and show ends at 3pm. Doing the activities downtown makes it so the car folks can also participate in the parade. Some of our businesses and stores are excited about the change and are looking to be open on July 4th when they would normally be closed. For example Spotlight Theater of Hornell will be open Noon to 9pm.
If you enjoy being at the park at night, some of our vendors will be moving there once the downtown activities end at 5pm. With the shortage of volunteers, finding help to take care of the activities spread throughout the park was becoming very difficult. The trash clean up last year alone took 2 days and the staff were overwhelmed. There is also the concern for safety with people putting pop up canopies near the railroad tracks etc. With the planned park renovations some time this summer, we were not sure when things would be under construction. This made it a good year to transition more to downtown.
The City Pool at the park will be open 12:30-8pm, with free admission sponsored by Mayor Buckley. The Hornell Partners for Growth and the City of Hornell are teaming up again this year to put on the July 4th fireworks. They are being let off at the same location as usual, near the Veteran’s Memorial Park. Choose your favorite spot to watch them, whether it be the park, a side street, your yard or a hillside road. We look forward to another amazing July 4th in the City of Hornell.
Michelle Pogue, HPG Chairwoman
