With July 4 falling on a Friday this year, local communities are celebrating our nation's birthday all weekend long.
Fireworks displays, concerts, parades and festivals are planned across Greater Cincinnati.
The celebrations begin on Fountain Square Thursday night with a 10 o'clock fireworks show. More fireworks are planned in Washington Park on the 5th.
On Saturday, the Cincinnati Park Board is honoring veterans with a parade and festival at Sawyer Point.
In Montgomery, Communications Coordinator Faith Lynch says the city's annual parade and festival are all about giving back to the community.
"A lot of neighbors gather at the festival after the parade and then go on to their neighborhood cookouts and grill-outs and it's just really a family, fun, friendly, hometown Americana activity," says Lynch.
Lynch says 10,000 people are expected to line the streets Friday morning for the 10 o'clock parade. A special highlight this year is the Ectomobile from the Ghostbusters movie.
Lynch says many people come from neighboring communities before heading on to other popular events like Red, White and Blue Ash.