Greenwood Lake Prepares for Centennial Weekend

By Peter Lyons Hall

There are many thrilling, historically significant events coming your way this weekend as the Village of Greenwood Lake prepares for its Centennial crescendo on August 16-17-18, that include the Laker Reunion, the Centennial Parade, the Time Capsule Reveal, and the historic Babe Ruth Tribute Baseball Game with 19th century uniforms and rules!

 On Friday evening, August 16 the Elks Lodge 2067, 35 Chestnut St, Greenwood Lake, NY 10925, will play host to dozens of former Village residents who still have friends and family members living here in the community. From 6PM until later that evening, guests will enjoy food and beverages at one of the Village’s most popular venues for local get togethers. The Laker Reunion [glreunion.us] tickets are $30/Adult;  $25/Senior; Kids under 12 free with paid adult/senior. Attendees will be able to Walk the Green Carpet and record a video message to our Laker Family, while meeting and greeting old friends and getting to know new ones. There will be a DJ with Karaoke competition, BBQ burgers and hot dogs with salads and snacks along with G rated beverages, a supervised Movie Tent for the kids along with popcorn & snacks, Elks cash bar for adult beverages, Lakers Remembered Memorial Wall, an “I was here” Laker Graffiti Wall, a 50/50 and raffles, and lots more fun.

 On Saturday, August 17, begin the day with breakfast at Karen’s Cafe, followed by the Centennial Float Parade. The parade, scheduled to begin at 11AM that morning, will begin on Windermere Ave., at Holy Rosary Church, and proceed north along the avenue and pass the reviewing stand at 132 (the Senior Center), and then will end at Willow Lane. Police will be directing traffic around the parade route at that time and spectators should arrive early enough to find parking spots on the available lots and side streets, or as directed by police.

 The parade’s theme “Iconic Greenwood Lake throughout the Years” will encourage onlookers to travel through time and remember the joy that the lake community has brought to residents and visitors throughout the last 100 years. Expect marchers to be dressed up and to have constructed elaborate floats, perform skits, dance, play music, and depict specific events, eras, people, and places that have played a role in Greenwood Lake’s unique history since 1924 when it first became an incorporated village in the state of New York. Coincidentally, the Lakeside Farmers Market, at Winstanley Park, will also be available from 9AM-1PM that day, as is usually the case every Saturday through October.

 Following the parade will be a Family Fun Day event, from 1-8PM, at Winstanley Park (next to CVS) on Windermere Ave. Starting with a drone shot of the assembled residents and guests, the Orange County Sheriff’s Canine Unit will have a display of its capabilities, then a three-legged race will take off, while DJs and musicians will delight the crowd all throughout the day. And what would an event like this be without a bubble station, dunk tank, scavenger hunt, and a tug-of-war! Of course there will also be lots of ways for visitors to sign up for sack races, pie-eating contests (with the winner getting a gift certificate for Shannon’s famous Eyes on the Pies), Charleston Dance Demos, and a frozen tee shirt contest! at 8PM, while still around the early stages of dusk, there will be a Ball Drop, with tickets being sold for the winners with the closest to the target getting a share of the pot.

 Meanwhile, all day long there will be horse and buggy rides, face paintings, touch-a-truck activities, soccer kick games, both giant and regular cornhole contests, rain gutter regatta, hopscotch, inflatables, paper airplanes, and a special opportunity to record senior voices – a chance for old-timers to remember stories of their youth and coming of age in a village that has had its share of incredible people and events that have had a worldwide impact. And did we say food trucks and craft vendors would be present, too? Of course.

 Brace yourself for Sunday’s events, Aug 18, that begins with the excavation and revelation of the contents of a time capsule that was buried 50 years ago, in 1974. The Time Capsule reveal will be held at 10AM on 51 Waterstone Road, outside the Community Center. What did they put in the time capsule 50 years ago? Come to the Greenwood Lake Community Center for the unearthing. Later that day, at 1PM. enjoy an historic baseball game as teams play an authentic 19th century baseball game commemorating the Greenwood Lake Centennial, featuring the Flemington Neshanock vs. Enterprise Club. FREE for residents and guests!

 Grand hotels, train service to New York City, steamboat ferries, fireworks, ice houses, sports celebrities, summer camps, bed races, and much more! “Greenwood Lake was the lakeside resort for many families and the well-to-do during the last 100 years. Originally known as Long Pond, the lake was the original homeland of Lenni Lenape, who signed a treaty in 1702 that became known as the Cheesecock Patent—trading their land to colonists from Britain, who nudged the Lenape further into the wilderness as they built their homes and businesses around the lake,” wrote Jane Anderson in Chronogram magazine. The Greenwood Lake Centennial [GWLCentennial.org] will be celebrating its greatest weekend event this coming weekend and all are invited to witness this historic series of activities.