As weekend plans get patriotic around the Finger Lakes, America’s flag isn’t the only thing gracing the skies. A plethora of different groups around Ithaca are planning fireworks displays for the July 4th season. Heading further and further from the pandemic, outdoor fireworks productions are annually revitalized. In 2024, Ithacans can expect the American tradition to be back in full bloom.
One of the most popular fireworks shows in the Southern Cayuga region is held by the Inn At Taughannock Falls. Since the current ownership team purchased the property in 2015, fireworks have been launched here for almost a decade. At its Gilded Age property with waterfront views, the luxury venue hosts a yearly Independence Day Party with a multi-course buffet and live music.
Events Director Stephenie Monroe expressed how special July 4th festivities are to the Inn At Taughannock team and how they improve community outreach.
“The Fireworks show is a great opportunity for us to remind the local area that this magnificent estate is open to the public. Any day of the week, folks can come and sit in the Enchantment Garden outside or on the deck and enjoy a drink at the bar,” she said.
Though tickets are sold out, the hotel will commence with fireworks at 9:30 PM on Friday, July 5th. They can be viewed from Taughannock Falls State Park and all along the lake’s shoreline.
Another favorite fireworks display in Tompkins County occurs at the Groton Elementary School. A half an hour drive from Ithaca city’s center, the Groton Fire Department has orchestrated July Fourth celebrations for several consecutive years. This upcoming Friday, fireworks fans can enjoy the return of food trucks and a DJ for one night only on the school field.
Fireworks will begin at dusk, roughly around 9 p.m., but entertainment will be available beforehand. All are welcome to the open event graciously coordinated between the school district and volunteer firefighters.
A quick trip in the opposite direction, fireworks will also explode over Candor on July 5th, with several other thrilling activities. 2024 marks the 150th anniversary of this Independence Day tradition. Each year, there is a July 4th parade and a series of outdoor games that Candor residents partake in with pride.
The Youth Explosives Corporation will decorate the sky with fireworks at sundown while bands Gary Jennings, Flashback and Burn The Boats will perform until 9 p.m. These events will be followed by an open car show on Saturday the 6th and a horse pull on Sunday the 7th. As Wheelock Amusem*nts has gone out of business, Candor plans are slightly different than usual, but a resilient celebration committee still preserves the town’s customs.
Though fireworks are not always close to home, cruises are a local staple that makes shows more accessible. Both Discover Cayuga Lake and Ithaca Boat Tours take passengers out onto the water every Independence Day for a better view of the celebrations. Aboard the MV Teal, DCL is hosting sunset cruises on July 5th and 6th from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
On July 4th and 5th, Ithaca Boat Tours offers a similar experience with three-hour narrated trips around the lake. Departing from 708 West Buffalo Street, the company delivers guests directly to a front seat on Cayuga starting at 8:00 p.m.
Ithaca Boat Tours manager David Openshaw is particularly enthusiastic about fireworks for 2024 as displays rebound since the pandemic.
“This is the first season where tourism is feeling back to normal,” he told the Times. Born and raised in Ithaca, he’s watched the fireworks scene evolve over time. This year, he is optimistic about reviving a Finger Lakes tradition called the Ring Of Fire. It involves dedicated waterfront residents privately lighting flares on the shore so the lake's edge glows red.
“I can remember the Ring of Fire happening since the 80’s,” Openshaw recalled. “Everyone, right at dusk, would light flares on shore. So by 8:45 or 9 o'clock, you could see hundreds and hundreds of flares along the lake perimeter.”
Since the pandemic, this ritual isn’t the only American festivities that’s “lost steam.” Fireworks at Myers and Stewart Park have been canceled again this season, with Ithaca Rotary Club unsure about the financial ability to return displays.
Nonetheless, fireworks transitions in a changing time keep fans like Openshaw hopeful. Even if July 4th is not back to its pre-pandemic glory, an increasing trend in fireworks promises a fuller night sky in years to come.
Kira Walter is a reporter from The Cornell Daily Sun working on The Sun’s summer fellowship at The Ithaca Times.
