With Independence Day falling on a Wednesday this year, it was unclear how the week would go for area tourism, but thanks partly to a streak of pleasant weather, the holiday week has registered a success for visitors and businesses alike.
“The activity this past week has been profitable and good for the community, especially the businesses, and I’m liking how the season is shaping up so far. The great weather has really topped things off, ” said Town of Webb Publicity Director Mike Farmer.
According to Farmer, many people stayed in town after last weekend, but many more came up in scores for vacation beginning on Tuesday.
“There were people everywhere,” he said, “ I went all the way from here to Raquette Lake and there were definitely a lot of people around.”
By Farmer’s account, despite the middle of the week holiday, the number of people who gathered at the lakefront to watch the fireworks seemed to exceed last year’s numbers.And the crowds were up in Inlet too for its fireworks display and Jamie Notarthomas concert.
“I think it went very well. The beach was packed for the fireworks last night,” Inlet Information Officer Adele Burnett said. “Town has been busy all week, starting last Friday and hopefully will continue on through this weekend as well.”
Part of what made the holiday week a success, according to Farmer, was the community involvement for all of the events, and the traffic control following the fireworks displays.
“People were very patient trying to get out this year and we had better traffic control with the Town, Herkimer County, and State Police. They had so many officers up here and they handled it so well,” Farmer said.
And now that the holiday is over, Burnett, Farmer, and Vice President and Director of Marketing at Enchanted Forest/ Water Safari Katie Noonan, believe that this weekend will be just as busy.
“It’s been a very steady week for us. We are actually seeing larger crowds today [Thursday] than any other day this week so far,” Noonan said.
“We were thinking that if people were taking the Fourth off, they would be coming up on Wednesday and taking off Thursday and Friday and having a good long weekend,” she added.
