Planning ramping up for Field Day event in July

by Dan McClelland

The Town of Tupper Lake Recreation Department, in its planning for the new Tupper Lake Field Day and Parade event on Saturday, July 23 conducted a survey to gather information about what people wanted it to be, via Facebook and the town web site. From that came a number of ideas for the day.

Reporting on the new event at last week's town board meeting, Deputy Supervisor Mary Fontana called it “the largest event the town has planned in a very long time.”

The event is intended to help replace the Tupper Lake Woodsmen's Days, which is not expected to return this year.

“We're hoping to have a parade and are currently waiting on village board approval.” That approval hinges on the availability of enough village police officers to staff it.

The police department is currently down in personnel in the face of a recent resignation, a maternity leave and a retirement.

Village Trustee Ron LaScala recently met with Recreation Director Laura LaBarge and Ms. Fontana to discuss how many officers will be required to handle the traffic logistics of running a parade on the state's Route 3.

It is hoped that state troopers and members of the Franklin County sheriff's department might be engaged to supplement the work of the village police and to fill in gaps where necessary. It is unknown, however, at this point if that help will be forthcoming.

The anticipated parade route is from Route 3 at Pine Street to the municipal park. Ms. Fontana noted Thursday that the town will have to secure permission from the state Department of Transportation in order to close the state highway and direct through traffic around the planned route.

She said there would be prizes for the best floats and heavy equipment entries in the “hoped for” parade.

According to the tentative information submitted to the board for its review by Mrs. LaBarge that evening, the Field Day parade would begin at 11a.m. and conclude before noon. From noon to 1p.m. judging of the floats and other entries would be done by the members of the town and village boards as the rigs collect along the firemen's strip in the park.

The theme of the proposed parade is “Not All Heros Wear Capes,” and it's intended to be a tribute to first responders here and everywhere.

The theme is expected to generate color floats, many of them sporting costumed super heros.

Grand Marshall of the parade is the late Clint Hollingsworth. His family will be honored in the procession.

Police, fire and emergency squads from around the North Country will be invited to bring their members and their large pieces of equipment to join in the parade.

There will be cash prizes for the best floats and first responder rigs, according to Mrs. LaBarge's report to the town board that evening.

Between 1p.m. and 2p.m. that day the emergency rigs will stay parked along the firemen's strip where guests will explore their inner workings and technological advancements. Organizers are hoping that during that hour the various agencies will do demonstrations for the public- K-9 presentations, fire drills, loading presentations, etc.

There will be youth field games in the park from 2 to 4p.m. that afternoon. Included will be a Little Bucket Relay for ages two to five, spoon races for kids two to five, sack races for children six to eight and nine to 12 years of age, two tugs of war- one between six and eight years old and a second where kids between nine and 12 will pull off. There is also planned a Color Run- a one kilometer fun run for all ages.

Award medals will be given out for each contest.

From 4p.m. to 6p.m. the agenda in the park will change to adult field games. Planned are a first responder bucket relay, a three-legged race, a sack race and a tug of war. There will also be another Color Run for all ages.

Scattered around the outer field of the municipal park will be a number of games and inflated rides and such, including Knockerball, an extreme X obstacle course, carnival on the go games, cornhole, a bouncy house and face painting artists. A beer garden is planned and local and area food trucks will be on the scene.

At 6p.m. music will arrive at the venue, with two Tragically Hip tribute bands performing from under the Rotary Pavilion. The music begins with an area band, “The Altered Tones,” which will open for “Fully Completely Hip” from Southern Ontario.

Admission to the field day event is free. There will be an admission fee for the concert. First responders will be admitted to the concert area free that evening.

For more information about the event contact Mrs. LaBarge week days at 518 359-8370.