Fair Haven's Fourth of July celebration is one that is hard to rival.

“Oh, we get thousands of people,” said Save Our Fourth Association committee member Gus Taft. “Main Street during the parade is wall to wall people, and during the fireworks, you probably won't want to even drive on some of the streets.”

Kicking off the festivities will be the boat parade at noon on Wednesday, July 4. Boat owners typically decorate their vessels in red, white and blue for the event in Little Sodus Bay, Taft added.

Continuing Thursday, July 5, through Saturday, July 7, will be ongoing events like the craft fair, carnival outside village hall, chicken barbecues, live entertainment and “stuff like that,” he said.

There will be a parade on Thursday and The Fair Haven Community Church will offer a smorgasbord at 4 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, there will be a 5K run to benefit the Hospice of the Finger Lakes at 9 a.m.; from 9 to 5 p.m. there will be a classic car show in the village and at 12:30 p.m. there will be the children's parade, which Taft said “is always cute.”

“It's hometown Americana,” Taft said. “It sounds corney, but it's appropriate.”

The finale of the celebration, the fire on the bay at 9:15 p.m. Saturday and fireworks following at 10 will top off the four days of fun.

“Our show is just as big as the Syracuse show, and people come from all over for it,” SOFA committee member Pete Hanford said.

If you go

What: Independence Day Celebration

When: Wednesday, July 4, through Saturday, July 7

Where: Village of Fair Haven