Fun for the Fourth!

 

Whether it's large booms and bursts of light raining from the sky, giggling children running around in flip-flops with a sparkler in each hand, the hiss of the grill as juicy goodies are cooked up or simply the company of family and good friends, there's no reminder of the many freedoms we enjoy quite like the Fourth of July. There's plenty of festivities and goings-on happening in our area and below you'll find a list of 'em (in alphabetical order, of course).

Have a safe and happy Independence Day!

 

Arlington - Fireworks will be seen over Arlington Community Park at dusk on Friday.

Bowling Green - Fireworks will start Saturday at dusk on Bowling Green State University’s intramural fields. The BG Area Community Band will host a free concert at Doyt-Perry football stadium at 8:30 p.m. Rain date is July 5.

Columbus - Red, White and Boom, the Midwest’s largest fireworks display, will be shot over the Scioto River from Veterans Memorial on the north side of Broad Street at 10 p.m. Friday. A wide array of entertainment and food will be offered starting at 11 a.m. A full events list can be found at http://www.redwhiteandboom.org/.

Findlay - Hancock County Fairgrounds open Saturday at 5 p.m. Music in the Gospel Pavilion will begin at 5 p.m. and will include Gloryway Quartet with Mary St. Clair from Mansfield, The Copenhavers Trio from Creston, Richardson Trio from Waterville, and Findlay songsters Jericho Road and 441 Quartet. Findlay rock band The Game will perform at 7 p.m. Food vendors and pony rides will be available. Fireworks begin at dusk.

Fostoria - Fireworks will start Saturday at dusk at Meadowlark Park. Music, games and food sales will begin at noon. At 6 p.m. the third annual Fostoria Idol Contest will be held with prizes offered to the top three winners. A song list is available at city hall, or singers may bring their own discs.

Fremont - Fireworks will be shot off at Rodger Young Park at dusk Saturday. The Toledo Symphony Concert Band will perform from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, with cannon fire accompaniment to the "1812 Overture." A downtown parade will be held at 5 p.m.

Kenton - Day-long activities Saturday will begin at 8 a.m. with a flea market, followed by a car show at 11 a.m., truck pull at noon, parade at 3 p.m., chicken barbecue at 5 p.m. and bingo at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks will begin at 10 p.m. Rain date for the fireworks is July 5 at 10 p.m.

Lima - Star Spangled Spectacular fireworks will be shot from Faurot Park at 10 p.m. Saturday. Activities will begin with a 5K run/walk at 9 a.m. Food booths, music, games and more will be featured throughout the day. A full events list can be found at www.lima4th.com.

Maumee/Perrysburg - Fireworks start at 10 p.m. Thursday from the Maumee-Perrysburg bridge. Activities for children at 5 p.m. in the 100 block of East Wayne Street in Perrysburg.

McComb - The village received enough donations this year to have fireworks. They will be set off at dusk Friday at the village park. There will also be free admission at the pool, food booths set up around noon, inflatables for all ages from 5-9 p.m. and music.

Napoleon - Fireworks will begin at Glenwood Park at 10 p.m. Saturday.

Ottawa - Fireworks start at 10 p.m. Sunday at Country Acres Golf Club on Ohio 694. Music, rides and other entertainment will start at 7 p.m. Parking is a $2 donation to Putnam County Home Care & Hospice.

Port Clinton - Fireworks start at 10 p.m. Saturday at Waterworks Park.

Put-In-Bay - Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial will be the fireworks launch site at 10 p.m. Saturday.

Sandusky - Stars and Stripes Celebration from 10 a.m. 40 4 p.m. in Washington Park and downtown Sandusky. Fireworks at 10 p.m. courtesy of Cedar Point.

Tiffin - Hedges-Boyer Park will host Independence Day activities from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, with music, games and fireworks at dusk. Rain date is Sunday.

Toledo - Red, White and Kaboom, a two-day event, will end with fireworks at the Downtown Riverfront at 9:45 p.m. Saturday. Those 12 and over will be charged $2 to enter the Promenade Park after 4 p.m. on Saturday, but those who bring a canned good to donate to local charities will be admitted free. Starting at noon Friday, the Northwest Ohio Restaurant Association will host Tent’s Taste of Toledo, and a battle of the bands will be held both days in the park. A kids area will offer activities on Saturday.

Van Buren State Park - Van Buren State Park will play host to a variety of activities this weekend including a movie showing, a canoe trip, a canoe race, a watermelon seed spitting contest, a spaghetti dinner and birds of prey and monarch butterfly programs. For more information click here or call naturalist Natalie Miller at 419-348-7679.

Wauseon - Fireworks at dusk with the best viewing being from the Wauseon High School football stadium and Reighard Park.

*Special thanks to Courier reporter Joy Brown!

Comments

[Valerie Reissig]

Unfortunately, I was unable to enjoy this year's holiday due to work and college committments. However, for everyone's information, Only Believe Ministeries in Botkins Ohio (just off I-75) offers a free public event for the 4th of July every single year. Free food, children's activities and the best fireworks display I have ever seen in this area. Each year the event grows bigger and better. It is definitely worth the drive!

[charlotte]

This was very nice information regarding the fireworks. I had to work on the forth but i did get to go to Perrysburg on the third to Fort Meigs and watch their display, which i do have to say that i enjoyed. They also had a carnival type stting of rides and concession for the family, along with music which played while the firewoks were going.

[Shileigh Ricker]

I was able to enjoy the holiday this year. There was also a small festival/carnival in the little toen of Woodville. I didn't stay to watch their fireworks display, but from my understanding, you can see them right from the festival area.

[simplyplenty]

I don't have any kids, but i sure had a blast on the holiday. I spent time with friends and family an we ate like we had never seen food before.

[Luke Schalk]

We had fireworks at my house this year. My uncle from Kentucky brought up about $500 worth of fireworks and we decided to set them off from my backyard. It was a great night.

[PMG]

My Family and I were able to join some friends at the Findlay Fairgrounds this year. The Fireworks display was beautiful and the atmosphere was unbeatable.
I am looking forward to making this a family tradition for us.
The only thing that upset me were the many peopel that did not stand up or place their hand over their hearts while the national anthem was being played.
I am not an american citizen, but I respect the flag and what it stands for. It is unreal to me that their are americans that do not have the same respect.

[Fares A.]

I was invited to a cookout on July fourth. We ate hotdogs and hamburgers. We watched the Findlay fireworks later.

[Katie]

July forth was really fun this year. I went with a friend to teh sandusky river where she has a cabin. We went night riding on the boat and watched a fireworks show right in her front yard. Neighbors brought up more than 5 thousand dollars worth of fireworks. I felt like a littel kid again!

[Mansour Aljabri]

It was fun this year for me because all my best friend with me in 4th of July. We got small party then we went to the fireworks in Bowling Green.