Dark storm clouds and rumbling thunder made a couple of appearances Monday afternoon, but many of the picnickers who came to Emerson Park for the annual Syracuse Symphony and fireworks show had been coming long enough to know what to do should rain occur.
Jennifer Meyers / The Citizen
Deanna Knapp, right, Anthony Guido, and Ryan Blake, 6, watch fireworks with friends at Emerson Park from the fields of Auburn High School Monday evening.
Deanna Knapp, right, Anthony Guido, and Ryan Blake, 6, watch fireworks with friends at Emerson Park from the fields of Auburn High School Monday evening.
Beth Molloy, who came to the park with her family, including her grandson, Kronous, said everyone knows what they're responsible for covering should the clouds give way.
“We've got it down to an art,” Molloy said.
Molloy arrived at the park at about 9:30 a.m. The family, she said, has always turned the July 3 festivities at Emerson Park into a daylong outing. This year was the first for 8-month-old Kronous, however.
“You meet a lot of interesting people year after year,” Molloy said, of the neighboring picnickers. “We like to crowd watch. You notice a lot of
familiar faces.”
The annual Syracuse Symphony and Fourth of July fireworks show draws about 7,500 people to the park, not including the boaters and people watching from the high school area.
While Molloy described the park as “peaceful” early in the day, she said it usually starts to get packed at about 7 p.m.: “It's amazing how many people fit in here.”
Even though the large crowds don't show up until the evening, JoAnn Strapach realized this year that arriving a couple of hours later can make a difference as to whether she gets a picnic table for her family. Strapach and her family arrived at about noon on Monday, about two hours later than their usual arrival time most years - the tables were gone, but Strapach said they were lucky enough to grab one after the first impending storm caused a few groups to leave.
Strapach staked out a spot under a tree and she and her husband set up their portable grill, lawn chairs and blankets for the fireworks show later Monday night.
“We're ready,” Strapach said.
Beth Morabito and her family, which included her husband, parents, two sisters and her niece, have been coming to see the fireworks at Emerson Park since the show moved there more than 20 years ago. And before that, they had been going to the show at East Middle School. For most of those years, the family has staked out the same spot near the stage where the Syracuse Symphony plays.
“Anybody that comes here that knows us, they always know we're right here,” Morabito said. “As long as it's been here, that's how long we've been here.”
As veterans of the Emerson Park Independence Day celebration, Morabito said the family has dealt with downpours. But Morabito was hoping the looming clouds would bypass the park Monday afternoon.
Joshua McGrail, the 20-month-old son of Christina and Leo McGrail, was slightly newer to the Fourth of July scene at the park.
Leo McGrail has been coming to the show since his family moved to the area about 20 years ago. Christina McGrail said she started coming with Leo - the day is also their anniversary. While Leo used to come with his family, now he's made it a tradition with his own family.
“We come here to have fun and then when the fireworks start, we settle down to watch,” Christina said, assuming that Joshua would make it that long. “He basically stays up until he feels like it.”
Staff writer Anne Gleason can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or at anne.gleason@lee.net
“We've got it down to an art,” Molloy said.
Molloy arrived at the park at about 9:30 a.m. The family, she said, has always turned the July 3 festivities at Emerson Park into a daylong outing. This year was the first for 8-month-old Kronous, however.
“You meet a lot of interesting people year after year,” Molloy said, of the neighboring picnickers. “We like to crowd watch. You notice a lot of
familiar faces.”
The annual Syracuse Symphony and Fourth of July fireworks show draws about 7,500 people to the park, not including the boaters and people watching from the high school area.
While Molloy described the park as “peaceful” early in the day, she said it usually starts to get packed at about 7 p.m.: “It's amazing how many people fit in here.”
Even though the large crowds don't show up until the evening, JoAnn Strapach realized this year that arriving a couple of hours later can make a difference as to whether she gets a picnic table for her family. Strapach and her family arrived at about noon on Monday, about two hours later than their usual arrival time most years - the tables were gone, but Strapach said they were lucky enough to grab one after the first impending storm caused a few groups to leave.
Strapach staked out a spot under a tree and she and her husband set up their portable grill, lawn chairs and blankets for the fireworks show later Monday night.
“We're ready,” Strapach said.
Beth Morabito and her family, which included her husband, parents, two sisters and her niece, have been coming to see the fireworks at Emerson Park since the show moved there more than 20 years ago. And before that, they had been going to the show at East Middle School. For most of those years, the family has staked out the same spot near the stage where the Syracuse Symphony plays.
“Anybody that comes here that knows us, they always know we're right here,” Morabito said. “As long as it's been here, that's how long we've been here.”
As veterans of the Emerson Park Independence Day celebration, Morabito said the family has dealt with downpours. But Morabito was hoping the looming clouds would bypass the park Monday afternoon.
Joshua McGrail, the 20-month-old son of Christina and Leo McGrail, was slightly newer to the Fourth of July scene at the park.
Leo McGrail has been coming to the show since his family moved to the area about 20 years ago. Christina McGrail said she started coming with Leo - the day is also their anniversary. While Leo used to come with his family, now he's made it a tradition with his own family.
“We come here to have fun and then when the fireworks start, we settle down to watch,” Christina said, assuming that Joshua would make it that long. “He basically stays up until he feels like it.”
Staff writer Anne Gleason can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or at anne.gleason@lee.net
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