LAKEFRONT CONCERT – 7 – 8:30 p.m. 3 local organizations collaborate to present concerts at Lake Front Park. This week enjoy a performance of the Council Rock Band. Lakefront Park, Cooperstown. Visit www.wearecooperstown.com
CELEBRATION – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Celebrate the nations independence with sights and souds of the 18th century. The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1450 or visit www.farmersmuseum.org/event/independence-day-celebration/
INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE – 1 p.m. The parade will line up at Noon at Foothills and proceed down Main Street to Neahwa Park for remarks and festivities. All essential workers are invited to participate and will have a chance to win door prizes from local businesses when they register. Bassett CEO Tommy Ibrahim will be serving as Grand Marshall. Main Street, Oneonta. Visit www.facebook.com/FNOneonta/
INDEPENDENCE DAY FESTIVAL – 2 – 11 p.m. After the Parade enjoy food, entertainment on the main stage, support local artisans, and much more at the festival. Mayor Gary Herzig and mayoral candidates will be presenting remarks to honor our essential workers. Neahwa Park, Oneonta. Visit www.facebook.com/FNOneonta/
INDEPENDENCE DAY FIREWORKS – 9:30 p.m. Five Star Subaru will be presenting the fireworks display, dedicated to Essential Workers, which will be ‘twice as intense’ as years past. Neahwa Park, Oneonta. Visit www.facebook.com/FNOneonta/
Start your Independence Day celebrations with the Hometown Heroes kick-off concert dedicated to the essential workers who have given so much during the pandemic. The concert will feature the Michael Christopher country band performing their greatest hits. Free admission. Presented by Hometown 4th at 7:30 p.m., Friday, July 2, at Neahwa Park in Oneonta. Visit facebook.com/FNOneonta/ for information.
SUMMER BOOK SALE – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Browse through used books of many genres, including nonfiction, arts and crafts, children’s books, cookbooks and much more to support your local library. Cost, $1-$2 for most books. Thru July 4. Cooperstown Village Library. 607-547-8344 or visit www.facebook.com/VillageLibraryOfCooperstown/
By PATRICK DEWEY • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
ONEONTA — The Hometown 4th Festival will return to Oneonta’s Neahwa Park to celebrate the July Fourth holiday next weekend, with a theme of honoring essential workers.
The goal is to honor the workers, including grocery store staff, teachers, police officers, firefighters and healthcare workers, who took risks for the community good during the coronavirus pandemic, according to festival officials.
“We wanted to do everything we could to let them know that the First Night Board and the whole community appreciates them,” First Night Board Chair Carol Mandigo said.
The celebration will kick off at 7:30 p.m., Friday, July 2, in Neahwa Park, with a free concert by country artist Michael Christopher.
At noon, Sunday, July 4, the parade will line up at Foothills Performing Arts Center on Market Street.
VIRTUAL CONCERT – 4 p.m. Tune in for virtual performance of sacred songs from 1574 to 1655 performed by Oneonta Tenor Fred Chrislip, accompanying himself on the Lute. Performance for the Boston Early Music Festival which promotes historical musical performance. Visit BEMF Fringe Concerts channel on Youtube to view.
VIRTUAL CONCERT – 4 p.m. Tune in for virtual performance of sacred songs from 1574 to 1655 performed by Oneonta Tenor Fred Chrislip, accompanying himself on the Lute. Performance for the Boston Early Music Festival which promotes historical musical performance. Visit BEMF Fringe Concerts channel on Youtube to view.
FIRE PIT FRIDAYS – 7 – 10 p.m. Get out and enjoy a fun night around the fire with friends, drinks and music. This week features The Beadle Brothers, performing today’s country music. Brewery Ommegang, 656 Co.Hwy. 33, Cooperstown. 607-280-2900 or visit www.ommegang.com/event/fire-pit-fridays-2021-2/
By MICHAEL FORSTER ROTHBART • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
ONEONTA — It has been a dark time for theater in Otsego County.
In 2020, the Glimmerglass Festival and Fenimore Art Museum each canceled its summer performance seasons because of the coronavirus pandemic.
In Oneonta, Foothills Performing Arts Center went 14 months without a live show, according to Operations Manager Geoff Doyle.
High schools and both Oneonta colleges experimented with streaming virtual theater, performed live without an audience. Local troupes such as the Catskill Puppet Theater and Orpheus Theatre cancelled shows, while Stuff of Dreams Productions pre-recorded performances for later broadcast.
This summer, stage by stage, the lights are back on and theaters are reopening — albeit with some modifications for COVID safety. Theaters have been operating at 33% capacity, with mask requirements in place, but that will change going forward, with an easing of most pandemic requirements from the state.
FLAG DAY!
AUDITIONS – 7 p.m. Women between 25 & 55 are invited to audition for lead and supporting roles in October production of ‘The Haunting of Hill House.’ Presented by Stuff of Dreams Productions. Held at Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. Visit www.facebook.com/GEStevensOneonta/
COMMUNITY CONCERT – 3 p.m. Oneonta Community Band returns with their first outdoor concert of the season. They will be performing patriotic tunes like the ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic,’ A Colonial Rhapsody’ and others, to celebrate Flag Day. Bring blankets, chairs and whatever else you need to be comfortable while you listen. The event will be held at the pavilion in Wilber Park in Oneonta. Visit www.facebook.com/oneontacommunity-concertband for more information.
The Fly Creek Area Historical Society will have its first meeting in nearly 18 months, at 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 23, at 210 Cemetery Road in the hamlet of Fly Creek.
Refreshments will be served.
Masks are optional. The doors will be open for circulation and social distancing will be acknowledged.
Bigger Boat Productions and Stuff of Dreams Productions will hold auditions for actors for the production of Shirley Jackson’s “The Haunting of Hill House” in October.
Open auditions will be held for women from age 25 to 55. Auditions will take place at 2 p.m., Sunday June 13, and 7 p.m., Monday June 14, in the production center of Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center.
STAFF REPORT • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
Because of COVID restrictions, the poll locations for primary day, Tuesday, June 22, was changed in district two to Oneonta Town Hall.
Early voting will be available at the Foothills Performing Arts Center and the Board of Elections.
All other voting locations will stay the same.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
For additional information, contact the Board of Elections at 607-547-4247/4325 or boe@otsegocounty.com.
Go to www.otsegocounty.com/departments/board_of_elections/index.php for a full list of voting information.
The Memorial Day Parade and celebration is set to kick off on Monday, May 31, with a parade starting at the Foothills Performing Arts Center at 10 a.m., going into Main Street and ending at Neahwa Park. Masks and social distancing are required.
State Sen. Peter Oberacker will be giving a presentation to the Town of Maryland Historical Society at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 27.
The society will also be selling donuts, 9 a.m. to noon, Sunday, May 30.
AUTHOR SERIES – 2 p.m. Join Rico Petrocelli of the Boston Red Sox for a discussion of his book ‘An All-Star’s Cardboard Memories.’ Free, registration required. Presented by The Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown. 607-547-7200 or visit baseballhall.org/events/virtual-author-series-rico-petrocelli?date=0