Many communities are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding or our nation this weekend. Here’s an incomplete list of some of the events, festivals, and parties.
There are at least five public readings of the Declaration of Independence locally:
July 2 — 1 p.m. Hamilton County Courthouse
July 4 — 9:30 a.m. Seasongood Pavilion in Eden Park
July 8 — 5:45 p.m. Delhi Towne Square Lawn Pavilion
July 11 — 11 a.m. Cincinnati Museum Center
July 11 — 11 a.m. Mason Municipal Center
Thursday, July 2
Batavia and Batavia Township kick things off with a festival on Main Street, beginning at 6 p.m. Fireworks start flying after the sun goes down.
Oxford's celebration starts at 5 p.m. at Oxford Community Park, with live music, until fireworks at 10:30 p.m.
Fairfield has a free concert from a Springsteen tribute band, as part of the Groovin' on the Green series at Village Green Park, starting at 6 p.m.
Friday, July 3
Starting this weekend, Cincinnati Museum Center hosts a J.P. Ball and Alexander S. Thomas photography exhibit, and has the Holt broadside printing of the Declaration of Independence on display.
Middletown's Independence Day Festival is at Smith Park, 500 Tytus Ave, 4-11 p.m., with live music, skydiving, and fireworks at 10 p.m.
Mt. Washington Independence Day Parade begins at 5:30 p.m. starting at Mt. Washington School and ending at Stanberry Park, where the Red, White and Bluegrass festival continues until 9 p.m.
Florence's celebration is at Thomas More Stadium. Times have been adjusted because of the forecasted heat. At 6:00 p.m., the gates open with live music, and at 10 p.m. there are fireworks by Rozzi Fireworks.
Union claims Boone County's largest celebration. The parade along US 42 begins at 6 p.m. The festival and fireworks are at Ryle High School.
What was the Newport Blast is now the Cincy Blast, which will span the Ohio River. This year the festivities start at 2 p.m. with a car show at Sawyer Point & Yeatman's Cove. Newport on the Levee will host live music through the afternoon, and at 10 p.m., there's a fireworks and drone show from Rozzis over the Ohio River.
Lights in Flight, in Dayton, OH, runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. A parade starts at noon at St. Clair Street/East Second Street, and ends at Monument Avenue/North Jefferson Street. Fireworks at Kettering Field end the day. Kettering Field is closed to the public and vehicle parking, but the fireworks will be visible from surrounding areas.
West Chester begins celebrations at the VOA Museum at 4 p.m., including guided tours, live music, and tethered hot air balloon rides.
Independence begins celebrating at 5 p.m. at Memorial Park with carnival rides and live music.
Madeira has a parade and fireworks at McDonald Commons Park, beginning at 6 p.m.
In Green Township, Kuliga Park hosts activities starting at 6:30 p.m.
Fairfield holds Red, White & KaBOOM at Harbin Park, starting at 7 p.m.
Sparks in the Park in Milford runs from 7 to 10 p.m. at Riverside Park Ballfield.
The party in Colerain Township starts at 7:30 p.m. at Drew Campbell Memorial Commons on Springdale Rd.
Saturday, July 4
Independence changed the start time of the parade to noon. It starts at Summit View Academy, travels south on Madison Pike, and ends at Simon Kenton High School. The festival continues at Memorial Park at 4 p.m. Fireworks will go off over the Independence Fire House.
Edgewood's 5K begins at Presidents Park at 7:30 a.m. The parade starts at Caywood Elementary/Turkeyfoot Middle School at 9:30 a.m. The festival is at Freedom Park, and begins at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks at dusk.
Greendale, IN, starts the day with a 5K run/walk at 8 a.m., at Greendale Park. A fishing derby begins at 9 a.m. at Schnebelt Park. At 2 p.m., there's a kids' bike parade, followed by a 3 p.m. golf cart parade at Oakley Park. The day ends with live music and fireworks at dusk at the Beer Garden.
Liberty Township's parade begins at 9 a.m. at Lakota East High School. It ends at Liberty Junior School.
In Warren County, Franklin and Carlisle are celebrating with a parade that starts at 10 a.m. on Park Avenue, and continues across the bridge, ending at Community Park. That's where a festival starts at 5 p.m., including live music and fireworks.
The Middletown 4th of July Parade will step off at 10 a.m., beginning at Smith Park and traveling through downtown Middletown to Charles and Manchester.
Hamilton's parade starts at the Butler County Fairgrounds at 10 a.m. and ends at Park Avenue and F Street. In the evening, there's a free concert at RiversEdge, followed by the annual Hamilton Firework Show.
Harrison's Independence Day starts with a parade at 10 a.m. The festival begins at 5 p.m. at the Community Center on George Street. Fireworks are at dusk.
Montgomery's parade also begins at 10 a.m., along Cooper and Montgomery Road. A festival follows at the park.
The Northside Fourth of July Parade starts at noon and runs along Hamilton Avenue from Ashtree to Palm. It is followed by the Rock & Roll Carnival at Hoffner Park.
Sharonville's parade also begins at noon, at the corner of Reading and Sharon roads. The party begins after the parade on Creek between Main and Reading Road.
Fort Mitchell's parade starts at 12:30 at the DCCH Center for Children and Families Fairgrounds on Orphanage Road. It travels Dixie Highway to Beechwood Schools on Beechwood Road.
The 60th annual Ault Park Independence Day party starts at 11 a.m. and ends after fireworks at 10 p.m.
Loveland's parade starts at 4 at Loveland Elementary School. There's music, an adult spelling bee, and a pie eating contest around downtown Loveland. The fireworks start at 10 p.m.
Red, White & Blue Ash is at Summit Park with live music, carnival rides, and fireworks from Arthur Rozzi Pyrotechnics. The festivities kick off at 3:30 p.m., live music starts at 6:00 p.m., and the fireworks will light up the night sky behind and from the Observation Tower at 10:00 p.m.
The Fort Thomas parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Highlands High School and travel south along the avenue, ending at the intersection of S. Fort Thomas Avenue and River Road. The party featuring a petting zoo, live music, and fireworks is in Tower Park starting at 5 p.m.
College Corner's Old Fashioned Fourth of July begins at 3 p.m. with a parade at Stateline Ballpark, and fireworks at dusk.
Red, Rhythm and Boom is at the Mason Municipal Campus, starting at 4 p.m. with live music. Rozzi Fireworks and drone show begins at 10 p.m.
West Chester continues the party at 4 p.m. with more live music, and fireworks at 10 p.m.
Kettering's festival runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Delco Park, with fireworks at the end.
Norwood hosts a party at Shea Stadium on Harris Avenue. Gates open at 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 5
A "Fireworks Extravaganza" caps the weekend at Hueston Woods State Park. The partying starts at 5 p.m. with fireworks at dark.
Read more:
