Thousands of lake residents and visitors lined Lake Hopatcong's shore and filled the main lake on Sunday night to watch the annual fireworks display, which went off on a perfectly mild summer evening, with clear skies and comfortable temperatures. 
The originally scheduled date for the fireworks was Thursday, but because of a chance of thunderstorms—and the fire marshal's concern that a delay like that of 2008 would result in too much overtime for local police and firefighters—the event was moved to its Sunday raindate. This year's event began around 9:30 p.m. and lasted a half hour, with smaller displays from around the lake and nearby communities entertaining the crowd. Sponsored by the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club and dating back to at least the 1950s, the fireworks are possible because of additional contributions from Hopatcong, Mt. Arlington, and Jefferson municipalities, plus dozens of local businesses and organizations, from the Antique and Classic Boat Society to the Garden State Yacht Club to the Sunset Sailboat Co. Yacht Club officials reported an increase in business donations this year, which was unexpected in light of the economic climate and difficult start to the season, during which many businesses struggled because of the low lake level. As a result, thousands were able to enjoy this annual Independence Day tradition.
