Schroon's 2020 July 4th Celebration Cancelled

As widely anticipated – based on the closings of multiple Schroon Lake summer activities – the town’s July 4th Celebration has been cancelled for 2020.

With the prospect of thousands of people descending on our town,  and social distancing a daunting task for both parade participants and spectators --  the Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce, organizers of the event, announced their decision on Monday.

As of this writing there are only a handful of events on the calendar for the summer season, including the Town’s Labor Day Fireworks and  Street Dance Party, the Lions Club annual garage sale and raffle on the same weekend and the Adirondack Marathon.

Here is the full statement from the  Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

After careful consideration, discussions with local leaders and partners, and a review of current restrictions in place, the Chamber of Commerce and the Town have made the very difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Schroon Lake Fourth of July Celebration.

The Governor’s current Executive Order prohibits public gatherings of more than 10 people and this extends to the third week of June. Even if this was modified in the coming weeks, any event would still require we adhere to all social distancing and disinfecting protocols mandated by the Department of Health, which we know would be impossible due to the nature of the day’s activities. Given these conditions, the Chamber and Town cannot enter into the multiple contractual obligations required to make the Fourth possible – bands, parade acts, staging, vendors, fireworks, etc. Nor can we in good faith engage in the significant fundraising required to pay for the celebration, knowing the event likely will not happen.

Like all the other decisions made so far that greatly affect the way we'll be spending our summer this year, we know the cancellation of the Fourth of July Celebration is heartbreaking for Schroon Lake area residents, visitors, and especially our local businesses. In the end, keeping everyone safe and healthy to celebrate the Fourth in the coming years was our first – and only – concern.