KINGSTON - Despite serious budget constraints, the City of Kingston’s Independence Day celebration proved to be a huge success as the festivities kept families flooding the waterfront until late Sunday evening.

There was fun for all ages with activities including live music, airbrush tattooing, face painting, moon bounce, and live story telling for children.

Lots of fun on the waterfront during the day ...

... with fireworks at night

The theme of this year’s celebration was “An All American Barbeque” and numerous local restaurants participated offering every dining option from Italian ices and good old barbecued ribs to fresh seafood and Spanish cuisine. The celebration then culminated after dark as hundreds of spectators packed the streets of the waterfront for a spectacular fireworks display.  

Due to a tight city budget, these festivities were not planned until Mayor James Sottile was approached by the law firm of Mainetti, Mainetti and O’Connor, which offered to sponsor the Independence celebration.

Twelve year Kingston resident Richard Altman was thrilled with the day’s events.

“It is a celebration of a country that can turn in all different directions, both good and bad, but somehow seems to find its way at the end of the day.”  

Altman was accompanied by his six year old son, Cormick, who had never seen a fireworks display. “I loved it!” little Cormick said of the fireworks show, noting his favorite part was the finale. His father said the City of Kingston “sure did” help him celebrate this Independence Day properly.