Now that holiday events are back to pre-pandemic schedules, fireworks are an anticipated mainstay in the many towns along Oneida Lake, N.Y. Its shoreline of about 55 miles is bordered by five counties and many communities which, you can guess, offer spectacular fireworks to view during the Fourth of July activities that last over several days. The 25-mile-long by five-mile-wide natural body of sparkling water is quite scenic and is known as the largest lake that is entirely within the state of New York. The locals know you can anchor your pontoon boat about midway on the north side of the lake and see fireworks going off at several different locations, all at the same time.

Joe Pierce is one of those locals who enjoys the fireworks from his 23-foot Lowe pontoon boat that is powered by a 150hp Mercury engine. His home on the north shore enables him to take his boat out on the water, anchor up with friends, and enjoy the sunset before watching the several pyrotechnic shows that go on for several nights in a row around the Fourth of July holiday. He doesn’t own a trailer for his boat since he doesn’t take it anywhere other than Oneida Lake or the picturesque Oneida River.

History Lesson

Just northeast of Syracuse, N.Y., and near the Great Lakes, this quaint, charming and pleasurable area brings thousands of visitors to enjoy not only the fireworks, but children’s events, boat parades, car shows and old-fashioned amusement park rides.

Steeped in history, the lake is part of the original Erie Canal system that opened in 1825, and is now known as part of the New York State Barge Canals, which gave early settlers a westward route from the Hudson River in New York City to the Great Lakes and further west. The Erie Canal on the east end is at Sylvan Beach and continues onto the relatively shallow lake (average depth is 22 feet) to the west end at the junction of the Oneida River in Brewerton, N.Y.

With nearly 80 square miles of water, it offers a multitude of waterside restaurants with great seafood, live entertainment, and dockage for your boat while looking at the fireworks or other boaters who are decked out for the holiday, along with boats decorated in red, white, and blue, too!

And The Winner Is…

In Brewerton at the 2023 celebration, over 30 boats were decorated with balloons, banners and costumed participants expressing their patriotism for this great country we love. Pontoon and deck boats were in abundance, while judges looked on at the participants waving and dancing to the music being played on their boats’ speakers.

A VIP section to watch the decorated boats is reserved across the river from where the fireworks go off at the longstanding 619 Riverside Restaurant and Tiki Bar. Munching on a soft shell crab sandwich, a Cajun fried catfish taco, or a barbecue burger is fun while enjoying the festive boats.

It is reported that up to 60,000 people come to see the spectacular light show each year, now in its 24th year, and always on the third of July. The best way to stay and see the show, parade and community celebration is to go to any of the website rental or Airbnb offerings so you can stay a while. There are a plethora of homes or cottages available in a large range of sizes and costs. The Oneida Lake Vacation Renters Alliance (Oneida Lake VRA) works to support the Oneida Lake economy, and promotes locally owned small businesses in the region.

Family Ties

The author’s own family took advantage of this opportunity to enjoy an entire family vacation that was a first for her sister Deborah Ash (retired Master Sergeant) with all members coming together for several days. She and her husband Bob are part of an ever growing family (several in the military), of five grown children, spouses, and grandchildren who resided for a week in a rented six-bedroom beautiful home on the lake.

Pontoon Rental

The first day of their vacation was enjoyed on a rented pontoon boat from one of a myriad of marinas in the area that offer pontoon boats to accommodate a large group of “sailors.” Since it was one of the first such adventures for the family, they did what millions of other people on vacation do: take selfies and pictures of each other while enjoying cruising on the lake. The children played on the deck, while the adults viewed the lake and islands from comfortable seats. The next day was also spent on the water – this time on kayaks rented from nearby marinas.

BYOB (Boat)

If you come to the area with your own pontoon or deck boat, there are many marinas in the Brewerton area where you can launch for the day or dock for several days or even for the season. One of the best locations to keep a transient boat and then watch the spectacular Brewerton firework show is at the 20-acre campus, 43º North Marina, which is at the junction of the lake and river. It is a preeminent full-service marina with new facilities, large restrooms with showers, as well as pontoon rentals and sales (Viaggio and Lowe boats). Four certified technicians are on staff throughout the year, although the locals confirm the season is mostly April 15 to October 15.

Marina owner Kevin Walma learned what was needed years before purchasing the grounds and expanded it to what it is today. It is one of the few marinas that offers fuel, and of course, ice. They have 178 deep water slips, 230 dry rack storage (including heated storage), with more facilities coming in the future. Plus, they recently joined the Carefree Boat Club of Syracuse.

The light show is just across the Oneida River where the marina is, and many boat owners traditionally have grills set up in front of the boats to enjoy picnics and fireworks with other friendly boat owners joining in.

Other active marinas in that area that cater to the smaller lake boats in particular are the Brewerton Boat Yard and Bradbury’s Boatel Marina. Chris Renslow, owner of the Brewerton Boat Yard, has a dozen transient boat slips up to 100 feet long, many seasonal slips, boat ramp with quick service, and new Tahoe pontoon boats for rent. Restaurants are close by and his ship’s store is well stocked for any boating need while there, as well as a full-service facility for boats and their engines.

Bradbury’s Boatel Marina is owned by 87-year-old Nolan Bradbury. He is a legend in the area, still working hard, along with his son, Jeff, who handles a lot of the heavier tasks, and his grandson who is learning the business when not in school. Nolan’s father, Vere, started the marina back in the 1950’s after dredging and digging the canals in the forested scenic cove at the lake. He also takes in transient boats, along with having 150 in water slips and a rack system for 120 boats. There are two boat ramps for daily use, next to the popular Barado’s On-The-Water restaurant that has a crab cake specialty on their menu.

Go Towards The Light

When out cruising, your day should include seeing historic Frenchman’s Island. It is 26 acres with a 123-foot tall fully functional 1,500 candlepower light house that is visible from up to 20 miles away. It is one of three lighthouses built in 1917 to guide navigation on the lake for barge traffic. The island’s name reportedly describes the island’s first colonial inhabitants. A French man and wealthy French woman eloped to the Americas despite her father’s defiance. They built a home, had children, and later, upon reconciliation with her father, returned to France.

The name stuck and further titillating stories continued. It once was a popular resort, but now is open to the public for recreational use and reached by boat, with access by a south island side dock.

Go Wild

Not far from that island is a very popular area for the young crowd as well as those who are young at heart. The primary use of Three Mile Bay is the almost 4,000-acre Three Mile Bay Wildlife Management Area for wildlife management and recreation. The waters adjacent have become even more popular during the summer season as boaters raft up in the shallow water to have a pig roast, grill burgers and enjoy like company while playing Frisbee with new and old friends.

The lake is named for the Oneida Indians, the Iroquoian Native American tribe that occupied a large region around the lake. As a result, while beaching your boat by the several sandy beaches, visitors can search for artifacts that document the Iroquoian Native American tribe in the Brewerton area and at various sites surrounding the lake. Those resourceful tribe members took advantage of the great fisheries that still populate the shallow waters to the deeper channels along the barge canal markers. College fishing tournaments and ESPN’s Bassmaster Memorial have popularized and raised interest in the great small and largemouth bass fisheries.

Known as the “Walleye Capital” of New York, the Oneida Fish Cultural Station annually produces about 6,000 pounds of fish to stock the lake and elsewhere, with walleye being the primary focus. Every year, the staff collects and cultivates from 200 to 300 million eggs from Oneida Lake to effectively supply the fishery with walleye fry and advanced fingerlings. The hatchery is open to the public during the summer. But don’t forget yellow perch and other panfish are also in abundance in this highly fishable water. Several websites help in finding where and how to fish, or the marinas offer advice to those asking for help in that effort.

Back In Time

Not to be missed on the far east end of the lake is an area that dates back in prominence to the 1920’s. Sylvan Beach has a different vibe that is a mix of a yesteryear charm with trees shading small shops and restaurants, and a beach side amusement park which is over 100 years old, of midway rides, arcade games and mini-golf entertainments. Blended with that nostalgic ambiance are several resort casinos and open beaches with shallow waters and sandy bottoms to anchor your boat for the day.

Pictures in some restaurants even show this was a summer place for celebrities to enjoy banned beverages during prohibition (Canada not being far away). Frank Sinatra, Desi Arnaz, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Harry James, Nat “King” Cole, and Glenn Miller among others, performed at the “Russell’s Danceland” during the Big Band Era of the 30’s and 40’s. It was a favorite for visitors to come for decades to enjoy the cool summers, great varied entertainment and traditional food.

Pontoon Included

You don’t have to bring your boat if you decide to stay at The Cove. The recently completed vacation cottages (2-4 bedrooms) come equipped with your own 20-foot Tahoe pontoon boat, powered by a 100hp Honda Marine outboard, to use anytime during your stay. The 70-unit campus has a heated pool, playground, barbecue grills and fire pits outside the cottages, adjacent to the pontoon boat-lined canal. It is just blocks from the shops and lake beach, if that is more your preference. In their gift shop, there is a whole wall dedicated to old-fashioned penny candy variety sweets to grab your attention before going to the espresso/coffee counter.

There are plenty of lodging and dining establishments available in the village, intermingled with shops and stores popular at beach resorts. Lively nightlife, summer concerts and great lake fishing along with holiday decorations remind us of days gone by, when a time of togetherness was prominent in our lives.

Camping At The State Park

A number of marinas line the main road leading into the village on Route 13 from Interstate 90 and can give you fishing information or offer transient slips. But don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy the Verona Beach State Park, just a couple of miles south of Sylvan Beach.

Located at the lake, this 1,735-acre park has a campground for 47 sites, picnic areas, splash pad, picnic shelters, trails, and a sandy beach on the lake and more. This was the site of many battles during the French and Indian War in the 1750’s. Other than 300 acres dedicated for recreational use, the remaining land is left in a natural state where wildlife abounds. Nature walks are still permissible to enjoy in these areas to view bird life and woodchuck, rabbits, beaver or fox and deer. Osprey and bald eagles may be spotted at the beach or from your boat as you leisurely fish for bass, walleye pike or yellow perch.

When asking the local residents what they call the area of Oneida Lake, it doesn’t take them long to respond with a soft and determined expression of reply, “We just call it home.”

Yes, which brings to mind as we look to the skies during the fireworks finale of the bombs bursting in air: it is a small delightful place to visit in our vast country on the Fourth of July. A holiday for us to remember, lest we forget that our country is also a land of the free and home of the brave.