COLTON -- The town of Colton’s annual summer festival is now a week-long event with daily activities before and after the traditional Country Day celebration being held this year on Saturday, July 20.

A major feature this year, coinciding with the 50th anniversary reunion of CPCS alumni, is a performance by The Blue Mystics from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Blue Mystics, with local roots and its origins in the 1960s, was influenced by the British Invasion and all the music of the times.

After daily rehearsals the band made its first outing in August 1966, performing in the Ogdensburg Battle of the Bands.

In 1968 the group won a Battle of the Bands in Massena which resulted in a live appearance on Canadian television.

One of the original band members, David Riehl who played keyboard, passed away in 2010.

Although dispersed geographically, the band reunited in 2018, appearing at the Edwards Opera House where they debuted their first recorded original song “I Captured Your Tears” written by bass player John Kribs.

The only member of the band who lives in the area is drum player Pete Marceau of Massena who says “getting this band together after 50 years has been nothing short of miraculous.”

People can mill around during the performance or bring their own chairs and blankets to sit and listen to the music under the tent in the Zion Church parking area.

Since much of Main Street will be closed during the day people are encouraged to park nearby at CPCS or at The Well (Colton Wesleyan Church) along State Highway 56 or at the town’s Municipal Services Building on Wildwood Road.

Free transportation to and from Main Street will be provided by the town via buses and golf carts from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The complete schedule of activities for Colton Country Days from July 14-21 is on the town’s website (www.townofcolton.com) and available at the Colton Town Hall, Colton Museum, and Colton Hepburn Library, all of which are located on Main Street in the hamlet of Colton.