"Ice Cream Bob", Canadian tourists return to Burlington during July Fourth celebration

A beloved creemee vendor and Canadian tourists were highlights from this weekend's Independence Day celebration

A beloved creemee vendor and Canadian tourists were highlights from this weekend's Independence Day celebration

EVERY YEAR ON THE áTHIRD OF JULY. NBC5'SKRYSTIN RAE Has. More from WATERFRONT PARK IN BURLINGTON. ((PKG)) PEOPLE ARRIVED TO BURLINGTON'S WATERFRONT PARK NICE AND EARLY TO GET THEIR SEATS FOR THE CITY'S BELOVED ANNUAL JULY THIRD FIREWORKS SHOW. Sot: Neil Pouliot: visiiSot: Neil Pouliottng Burlington <"VERY VERY NICE, IM FROM DOWN SOUTH, THIS IS A LOT THIS IS NICE. THE WEATHER IS NICE, FRESH AIR."> NEIL POULIOT, FROM ATLANTA GEORGIA, IS ONE OF THE MANY TRAVELERS WHO CHOSE BURLINGTON, VERMONT AS THEIR DESTINATION FOR THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND Sot: Cindi Wight: Burlington Parks and Rec <"IT ISN'T LIKE LAST YEAR, TWO YEARS AGO WE CANCELED, LAST YEAR WE HAD THE FIREWORKS BUT THERE WAS A KEY GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WAS MISSING. AND THAT WAS THE CANADIANS, HERE. PEOPLE COMING IN FROM OVERSEAS. AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT'S HAPPENED THIS YEAR, PEOPLE COMING IN INTERNATIONALLY."> ELIZABETH SIMINITUS-WHO GREW UP IN STARKSBORO VERMONT- DRIVING HER FRIENDS 4 HOURS FROM HAMILTON COLLEGE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK TO SHOW THEM HOW VERMONTERS DO THE FOURTH Sot: Elizabeth Siminitus <"I FEEL LIKE THE WEATHER IS ALWAYS PERFECT WHICH IS KIND OF THE MAGIC OF VERMONT. I LOVED SHOWING THEM THE DRIVE ACROSS THE STATE TO BURLINGTON, AND HOW BEAUTIFUL EVERYTHING IS. IT'S WHAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT, BEING OUTSIDE AND STUFF. CHURCH ST. IS ALWAYS SO GREAT TO SHOW PEOPLE, CAUSE IT'S SO SPECIAL TO BURLINGTON."> LOCAL FOOD VENDORS-LIKE CHURCH STREET CHEESE STEAK- GEARING UP ALL DAY- FOR THE EVENT Sot: Sandi Pasajich : Church Street Cheese Steaks <"IT'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY. BECAUSE YOU'RE RARELY EVER FACED WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THIS MANY PEOPLE AND HAVE THIS MUCH EXPOSURE. IT'S A REALLY FUN CROWD, EVERYONE IS HAPPY, A LOT OF FAMILIES."> THE RETURN OF AMTRAK SERVICES IN NORTHWEST VERMONT ALSO BROUGHT THE RETURN OF BOB SAFFI AT BOB'S ICECREAM- Sot: Bob Saffi: Bob's Ice Cream <"IT'S BEEN VERY BUSY, AND SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAPPY I REOPENED. THEY'RE CALLING ME TOM BRADY, BECAUSE I RETIRED AND I'VE REOPENED AGAIN. ITS KIND OF FUNNY."> SAFFI, AS MANY OTHERS, HAPPY TO BE BACK IN BUSINESS IN THE GREEN MOUNTAIN STATE BY WATERFRONT PARK FOR FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS Sot: Bob Saffi: Bob's Ice Cream <"ITS FUN, I D

"Ice Cream Bob", Canadian tourists return to Burlington during July Fourth celebration

A beloved creemee vendor and Canadian tourists were highlights from this weekend's Independence Day celebration

This year's fireworks display in Burlington marked the return of both a beloved local creemee vendor and a welcome return to Canadian tourism.As thousands of people turned their gaze skyward during Burlington's annual July 3 Celebration Waterfront Park on Sunday, visitors from across the border were among those ringing in America's birthday.It marked the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic that Canadian tourists were able to attend the July Fourth extravaganza. "Last year we had the fireworks, but there was a key group of people that was missing. And that was the Canadians," said Cinfi Wight with Burlington’s Park and Recreation Waterfront. "I have really been loving hearing all the French being spoken around here. So that’s one of the big things that’s happened this year, people coming in internationally.”Elizabeth Siminitus, who grew up in Starksboro, Vermont, drove her friends 4 hours from Hamilton College in upstate New York to show them how Vermonters celebrate the Fourth of July. “I feel like the weather is always perfect, which is kind of the magic of Vermont," Siminitus said. "I loved showing them the drive across the state to Burlington, and how beautiful everything is. Church Street is always so great to show people, cause it’s so special to Burlington.”Beloved creemee stand owner Bob Saffi, known more widely as "Ice Cream Bob", returned to Waterfront Park this weekend to serve up frozen treats after he had previously announced his retirement in May.“It’s been very busy, and so many people are happy I reopened," Saffi said. "They’re calling me Tom Brady because I retired and I’ve reopened again."Saffi said he is happy to be back in business, particularly during the city's Fourth of July celebrations. “It’s fun, I didn’t realize how much I missed it,” he said.

BURLINGTON, Vt. —

This year's fireworks display in Burlington marked the return of both a beloved local creemee vendor and a welcome return to Canadian tourism.

As thousands of people turned their gaze skyward during Burlington's annual July 3 Celebration Waterfront Park on Sunday, visitors from across the border were among those ringing in America's birthday.

It marked the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic that Canadian tourists were able to attend the July Fourth extravaganza.

"Last year we had the fireworks, but there was a key group of people that was missing. And that was the Canadians," said Cinfi Wight with Burlington’s Park and Recreation Waterfront. "I have really been loving hearing all the French being spoken around here. So that’s one of the big things that’s happened this year, people coming in internationally.”

Elizabeth Siminitus, who grew up in Starksboro, Vermont, drove her friends 4 hours from Hamilton College in upstate New York to show them how Vermonters celebrate the Fourth of July.

“I feel like the weather is always perfect, which is kind of the magic of Vermont," Siminitus said. "I loved showing them the drive across the state to Burlington, and how beautiful everything is. Church Street is always so great to show people, cause it’s so special to Burlington.”

Beloved creemee stand owner Bob Saffi, known more widely as "Ice Cream Bob", returned to Waterfront Park this weekend to serve up frozen treats after he had previously announced his retirement in May.

“It’s been very busy, and so many people are happy I reopened," Saffi said. "They’re calling me Tom Brady because I retired and I’ve reopened again."

Saffi said he is happy to be back in business, particularly during the city's Fourth of July celebrations.

“It’s fun, I didn’t realize how much I missed it,” he said.

"Ice Cream Bob", Canadian tourists return to Burlington during July Fourth celebration

A beloved creemee vendor and Canadian tourists were highlights from this weekend's Independence Day celebration

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