I’d peg last weekend somewhere between the perfect American Dream and “Groundhog Day.” With Independence Day on a Friday, it was destined to be a packed weekend no matter where in the country you were, but I think Addison County — and my own little family — might have outdone ourselves.
We kicked things off with a beach party for the Addy Indy staff and guests at Branbury. It was sunny and breezy; we swam, tossed cornhole beanbags, grilled and ate cherry pie. There was a piñata, a fleeting thunderstorm, and thankfully, an indoor pavilion to save us from the rain. It felt wonderful to step away from deadlines, spend time with colleagues and families, and briefly know only the stress of how to rescue a beanbag that got thrown onto the roof. Elwood (6) and Naomi (almost 3) were puddles in the backseat on the way home. And that was just Thursday.
We woke up on Friday ready for America’s birthday. Decked in red, white, and blue, we made it to the Bristol Parade, finding friends on the corner of North and Pleasant streets — the perfect candy-catching spot. We cheered as floats, fire trucks, demo derby cars, and horse-drawn carriages rolled by. Afterward, we hit the village green: bounce houses, kettle corn, hot dogs, live music, and the largest American flag I’ve ever seen, suspended over Main Street. I felt downright patriotic, which is a rare feeling for me lately. We ended the day with garden work, grilled corn, s’mores, and lightning bugs.
Saturday kept us moving: a morning of canoeing and kayaking on Lake Champlain, then an afternoon Independence Day party featuring a giant slip-n-slide that launched kids into a hayfield and an impressive fireworks show put on by that Dad who never quite grew out of pyrotechnics. Elwood narrated every firework (“That one went swirly up!”), while Naomi clutched her ears and mostly shrieked gleefully, until her lower lip turned down and she turned into my chest and whispered, “Ready to go home.” We retreated indoors with other little ones — three hours past bedtime.
But the weekend wasn’t over.
Sunday brought Circus Smirkus, and though it was 90 degrees and I nearly bailed before we even entered the tent, the moment the music started, we were all in. The show was incredible — funny, clever, joyful, and wildly impressive. I left feeling deeply proud: Smirkus isn’t just exceptional family entertainment, it’s also a Vermont-based organization that gives kids a safe, inclusive place to literally run away to the circus and live their dreams.
Sure, we missed plenty: downtown markets, fireworks shows, the Brandon Independence Day extravaganza, the Salisbury ice cream social. But I love that. Maybe another family did all the things we skipped and had just as much fun. Was it you?
– I’m Christy Lynn, co-publisher of the Addison Independent, and I’m thrilled to join Minibury as a contributor. Do you have a story to share about life with young kids in Addison County? We’d love to hear from you. Let’s keep sharing the small joys that make this community so special.