Nancy and George Porter sat subsequent to one another beneath a tree close to the sting of Baker Park on Monday. It was nearly four within the afternoon they usually had been there since 9 within the morning.
The couple traveled 150 miles from their house in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, to get to Frederick’s annual Fourth of July celebration.
The Porters have made the journey yearly since 2016, once they stumbled upon the celebration whereas visiting Civil Battle websites within the metropolis. And so they at all times put their chairs beneath the identical tree, Nancy mentioned, pointing up together with her cane.
When requested what he likes most in regards to the celebration, he thought for a second.
“Simply sitting right here,” mentioned Nancy. “Watching individuals.”
The Porters had quite a bit to do. 1000’s of individuals flocked to Baker Park over the course of Monday to have a good time Independence Day, marking the return of one of many metropolis’s largest vacation occasions for the primary time because the pandemic started.
“It feels nice,” mentioned Jen Martin, govt director of Have fun Frederick, which organizes the occasion. “Individuals appear excited to return and do the large conventional festivities.”
Attendees loved dwell music, beer gardens, dozens of meals vans, carnival rides and extra all through the afternoon. Many arrived early and deliberate to remain till darkish for the fireworks present.
Martin arrived at 6:30 am to begin getting settled, he mentioned. Some individuals have been already placing up their canopies and marking their locations.
“We’ll be right here all day,” mentioned Alicia Hoffman of Hagerstown. Her again has been giving her bother currently, she mentioned, however she wasn’t going to let that cease her.
Leah and Jes Smith walked to the park from their downtown Frederick house with their daughters Lilah, 9, and Quincy, 6. The household comes yearly, Leah mentioned. It’s a hit with the children.
“The Fourth of July is the very best day of my life,” Quincy mentioned matter-of-factly.
On the west aspect of Faculty Avenue, smoke crammed the air as individuals ready lunch at public grills within the park. Frisbees and cornhole luggage flew by the air.
Carlos Zúñiga and his household have been gathered in a unfastened circle, ready for the burgers to be prepared.
Darrie Neely from Baltimore sat along with his household, a few of whom dwell in Frederick. She loves coming to Baker Park all yr lengthy to look at her grandchildren play, she mentioned.
“We’re retired,” Neely mentioned with a smile, “so day by day is a trip for us.”
Close by, Jay and Daybreak Ramsburg watched from the shore as their canine, Chloe, cooled off within the creek.
The couple, who now dwell in Urbana, have been attending the celebration for years. Jay’s grandmother used to dwell on close by Rockwell Terrace, she mentioned.
“We at all times had place to park for the fireworks,” he recalled.
On the different finish of the park, Julie Cucina queued up for a moon bounce together with her daughter, Natalie. The 10 yr previous had simply completed the large swing and she or he mentioned the breeze felt nice within the heat climate.
“We’re actually right here for her,” Julie mentioned, her arm round Natalie. “For all issues enjoyable youngsters.”
many attendees — together with 5-year-old Wesley Gallagher and his Three-year-old brother Owen — loved ice cream or sno-cones to chill down. The boys’ dad, Sean, and grandma, Melissa, laughed as Wesley and Owen smeared ice cream cones on their faces and shirts.
Owen was pleased with himself for getting on a moon bounce simply minutes earlier than, Melissa mentioned.
An extended line snaked alongside Fleming Avenue as dozens of individuals waited to get into the Edward P. Thomas Memorial Pool. On the finish, Brian Ortega was standing holding the hand of his nearly 2-year-old daughter, Olivia.
The household already had their cover arrange close by and had hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill. Now, they hoped to chill off and chill out earlier than the fireworks started.
The gang at all times swells all through the day, Martin mentioned, and the park is most crowded simply earlier than darkish. The celebration usually attracts about 60,000 guests between midday and eight pm, he mentioned.
“It is a return to what everyone seems to be used to,” Martin mentioned. “What everybody loves in regards to the 4th of July.”
