A Perfect Day in Confluence for America’s 250th
A mild, overcast day, music in the park, a hot dog contest and fireworks by Little Big Shots. A look back at Confluence's celebration of America's 250th.
Well, Confluence did it right.
Saturday’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday could not have asked for a better day. The sky stayed overcast, which kept things mild, and the whole town turned out for it.
The band filled the park with music, and the people filled it with life, from morning straight through to night. There were contests, food, and no shortage of things to do. Brandon Lytle took the honors in the hot dog eating contest, in case you are already sizing up the competition for next year.
For most of the day, the town was hopping. It was the kind of day that reminds you why people love it here.
And then there were the fireworks. Little Big Shots put on a show that was, in a word, off the hook. It went on and on, longer than anyone expected, and it was worth every minute. I watched the whole thing from my own couch, looking out over the confluence, and there are a lot of good vantage points for this spetacle, but mine was quite comfy. Hope yours was.
A day like this takes a small army. Thank you to the Borough Council, to the USA 250 Committee for pulling it all together, and to every volunteer who gave their time.
It also took the generosity of a long list of sponsors, and every one of them deserves to be named. Thank you again to Confluence Borough, Hannah House, Mosholder Insurance, Travel By Diane, Smith House Inn LLC, Christine and John Walsh, Somerset Trust Company, the Addison Community Development Committee, Confluence Tourism, Front Porch Bar and Grill, Steve’s Gun Sales, Tissue Farm, Howard Emerick, the Lions Club, John and Christine Hutchin, BP and MR Smith LLC, Country Lane Lambs, Trailhead Confluence, Humbert Funeral Home, First National Bank, the Turkeyfoot Lending Library, Confluence Cyclery, the Turkeyfoot Inn, On Point Outfitters, Turkeyfoot Fish and Game, William Barlow Carpentry, Pam Metzger, Scott and Michelle Byrd, Draketown Community Church, Family Traditions, Mitch’s Fuel and Food, Pamela’s Pints and Provisions, Johnny Tressler, Beggs Printing, the Addison VFD, the Confluence Creative Arts Center, the Confluence VFD, Confluence Hardware, the Confluence Historical Society, Outflow, and the VFW.
It was, simply put, a perfect 250 celebration on the mountain. Two hundred and fifty years only comes around once. I am glad we spent it together.