Seven Days: Vermont's Independent Voice

I am Sam

What do Samuel de Champlain and Uncle Sam have in common — besides the same first name? Sure, both are national icons — the former represents our region’s discovery by Europe; the latter, our country’s spark. More important, though, both Sams can be seen marching with mere commoners on a parade through the middle of Colchester village this Saturday. In honor of the quadricentennial, the town has added a host of Lake Champlain motifs to its annual Fourth of July festivities, ranging from the visit of the canal schooner Lois McClure to a late-afternoon boat parade to displays of archaeological artifacts mined from the area. “The goal is to celebrate the lake, the land and the people,” says Colchester Economic Development Director Kimberly Murray. Other merrymaking at this double-bill blowout includes corn-husk doll making, a frog-jumping contest, Québecois tunes played by a roaming fiddler and, of course, evening lights in the air. Why not multitask and celebrate the Fourth and the 400th together?