CINCINNATI — There's no better way to celebrate the red, white and blue than with parades, fireworks and festivals.
IN OHIO
BUTLER COUNTY
Fairfield's Red, White and Kaboom: 5-11 p.m. Wednesday. Four locations, Fairfield. The city of Fairfield is going all out for this Fourth of July. The annual Red, White and Kaboom festival is being hosted at four locations throughout the city. The patriotic fun will kick off with an afternoon of fishing from 5-11 p.m. at Marsh Lake, 64440 River Road. The Fairfield Aquatic Center, located at 2605 Augusta Boulevard, will host a fireworks swim from 7-11 p.m. featuring music, games and food specials. General admission for both the lake and aquatic center is $5 or free to season pass holders. Village Green Park (301 Wessel Drive) and Harbin Park (1300 Hunter Road) also will offer live music starting at 8 p.m. The Whammies will play at Village Green and The Soul Pocket Band at Harbin. Both locations will feature food vendors. The Rozzi Famous Fireworks display will begin at 10 p.m. at Harbin Park and will be visible from the other three Fairfield locations. www.fairfield-city.org
Hamilton, Ohio’s Fourth of July: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday. Various locations, Hamilton, Ohio. Fourth of July festivities will begin at 10 a.m. with a parade starting from the Butler County Fairgrounds, 1715 Fairgrove Ave., and ending at the Butler County Courthouse, 101 High St. There will be Native American and pioneer living demonstrations from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Monument Park, 15 Monument Ave.; open houses at Heritage Hall, the Monument and the Butler County Historical Society from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; a patriotic ceremony at the courthouse at noon; and fireworks launched from Veterans Park, 20 New London Road, at 10 p.m. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Liberty Township Fourth of July Parade: 9 a.m. Thursday. Lakota East High School, 6840 Lakota Lane. The annual Liberty Township Fourth of July Parade will begin at Lakota East High School and end at Liberty Junior High School. www.liberty-township.com
Middletown's Broad Street Blast: 5-10 p.m. Wednesday. Smith Park, 500 Tytus Ave., Middletown. Free. Former Boston band member David Victor will join Middletown natives The Kyle Wallace Experience at this year’s Broad Street Blast. There will be a fireworks display following Wednesday's free concert at sunset. For more information visit the Facebook event page. The blast also will kick off an extended weekend of patriotic events in Middletown:
- Independence Day Parade: 10-11:30 a.m. Thursday. Smith Park, 500 Tytus Ave., Middletown. Free. The annual Middletown Independence Day Parade will start from Smith Park at 10 a.m. and end inside Woodside Cemetery at 11:30 a.m. Thursday. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
- All American Heroes Weekend: 5-9 p.m. July 5 and 6. Governor’s Square, 1108 Central Ave., Middletown. Free. The patriotic fun continues with the All American Heroes Weekend in downtown Middletown. This event will feature live music, games and fun for kids of all ages, plus a special salute to America’s heroes both home and away. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Monroe's Fourth of July Celebration: Noon-10 p.m. Thursday. Multiple locations, Monroe. Monroe’s annual Independence Day parade will begin at noon from the parking lot of Kroger, 3033 Heritage Green Drive, and conclude at Monroe Community Park, 412 Old St. Festivities will continue at the park with the Monroe Lions Club’s Light Up the Sky Event. The festival will feature beer tents, a classic game of baseball and live music. The evening will wrap up with a fireworks show at 10 p.m. www.monroeohio.org
Oxford Freedom Festival: 6-10:30 p.m. Wednesday. Oxford Community Park, 6801 Fairfield Road, Oxford. $5 fee per car. Oxford will host its classic Fourth of July festival at the Oxford Community Park. There will be a pie baking contest for cash prizes, community booths, entertainment, door prizes and concessions for sale. Fireworks will begin at 10 p.m. www.enjoyoxford.org
CLERMONT COUNTY
Milford's Sparks in the Park: 6-10 p.m. Wednesday. Riverside Ball Park, Victor Stier Drive. Milford. Activities will include live music, food and a fireworks display that will begin at 10 p.m. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
New Richmond Freedom Fest: 6-10 p.m. Wednesday; noon-11 p.m. Thursday. Front Street, New Richmond. Free. New Richmond’s Freedom Fest will feature carnival rides, games, live music, food and drinks both days. The Independence Day Parade will begin at 4 p.m. Thursday led by grand marshal and Korean War veteran John Steel. Fourth of July festivities will conclude with a fireworks show along the river at 10 p.m. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
HAMILTON COUNTY
LaRosa’s Balloon Glow: 5-11 p.m. Wednesday. Coney Island Amusement Park, 6201 Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati. The LaRosa’s Balloon Glow will turn 20 this year. Coney Island is celebrating the milestone by bringing some extra fun to its annual Independence Day event. Besides the Balloon Glow, live entertainment at Moonlight Pavilion and fireworks over Lake Como, the event will feature Cincinnati Circus Stunt Show performances and a live broadcast by Q102. Balloon Glow activities are free to attend, but it will cost $15 for parking after 2 p.m., and normal admission prices for Sunlite Pool and Coney’s rides apply. The stunt circus also will continue performances through Thursday. coneyislandpark.com
Red, White & Boom at Riverbend: 8 p.m. Thursday. Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave. Cincinnati. $5-$50. Enjoy an evening of patriotic music by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra at Riverbend Music Center, followed by fireworks over the Ohio River. www.cincinnatisymphony.org
Anderson Township “Hometown Pride” Independence Day Parade: 10 a.m. Thursday. Anderson Township Operations Center, 7954 Beechmont Ave. The annual Anderson Township Independence Day Parade will begin at Anderson Township Operations Center and end at the Anderson Towne Center, 7578 Beechmont Ave. www.andersonparade.com
Red, White and Blue Ash: 4-10:30 p.m. Thursday. Summit Park, 4335 Glendale-Milford Road, Blue Ash. This year’s annual Red, White and Blue Ash will feature a free Natalie Brady & The Night Owls concert starting at 5:30 p.m. followed by the classic rock band Kansas at 8:30 p.m. This Fourth of July celebration also will feature food and drink vendors and multiple off-site locations for parking. Rozzi’s fireworks will fill the sky at approximately 10 p.m. www.blueashevents.com
Colerain’s Fourth of July Spectacular: 7-11 p.m. Wednesday. Drew Campbell Memorial Commons, 4160 Springdale Road, Colerain. Free. Activities at this family-oriented, no-alcohol event will include live music by Gen X, bounce houses and a fireworks show at 10 p.m. www.colerain.org
Green Township Independence Day Celebration: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Kuliga Park, 6717 Bridgetown Road, Green Township. Free. Green Township will celebrate the Fourth of July with an evening filled with food, drinks, music and a fireworks display that begins at dusk. www.greentwp.org
Harrison Fourth of July Parade and Celebration: 4-10 p.m. Thursday. Harrison Community Center, 300 George St., Harrison. The annual Harrison Fourth of July parade will begin from the community center starting at 4 p.m. It will make its way back to the center, where festivities including live music, food and children's activities will continue until the fireworks display at dusk. www.harrisonohio.gov
Ault Park Independence Day Fireworks: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday. Ault Park, 5090 Observatory Ave., Mount Lookout. Free. Take in the splendor of Ault Park in Mount Lookout, enjoy a children’s parade and contest, live music by Bad Habit, concessions and a fireworks display starting at dusk. www.aultparkac.org
Indian Hill Fourth of July Parade and Festivities: 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Thursday. Stephan Field, Shawnee Run and Drake roads, Indian Hill. Indian Hill’s parade will begin at 10 a.m. from Cincinnati Country Day School, 6905 Given Road, and end at Stephan Field. Food and activities will follow, including a best-decorated bicycle contest, best-decorated dog contest and a pie-eating contest. Fireworks at Stephan Field will conclude the day’s events at dusk. www.ihill.org
Madeira Independence Day Parade: 6:30-10:30 p.m. Wednesday. Sellman Park, 6700 Marvin Ave., Madeira. The annual Madeira Independence Day Parade will start at Madeira High School, 7465 Loannes Drive, and conclude at St. Gertrude Parish, 6543 Miami Ave. Festivities will follow the parade at Sellman Park, including live music, food, drinks and fireworks at dusk. www.madeiracity.com
Montgomery Patriotic Concert: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Montgomery Park, 10105 Montgomery Road, Montgomery. Free. The Blue Ash-Montgomery Symphony Orchestra will perform a patriotic lineup at Montgomery Park. www.montgomeryohio.org
- Montgomery Independence Day Parade and Festival: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday. Montgomery Park, 10105 Montgomery Road, Montgomery. Montgomery’s patriotic festivities will continue on the Fourth of July with the city’s annual parade. It will start on Cooper Road and end near Montgomery Park, where a daylong festival will start at 11 a.m. The festival will feature children's games, pony rides, food, music and an "All-Star" baseball game until 2 p.m. www.montgomeryohio.org
Mount Healthy Independence Day Celebration: 6 p.m.-midnight Wednesday. Mount Healthy City Park, 1541 Hill Ave., Mount Healthy. Activities will include live music by the Michelle Robinson Band, food vendors and fireworks at dusk. www.mthealthy.org
Northside Rock N' Roll Carnival: 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Wednesday; 10 a.m.-midnight Thursday. Hoffner Park, 4101 Hamilton Ave. Northside will again host two days of patriotic fun as only Northside knows how. Festivities will begin at 4 p.m. Wednesday in Hoffner Park; the first band will take the stage at 5 p.m. The fun will begin on the Fourth with a 10 a.m. early bird kegs and eggs event before the Northside parade begins at noon. Live music at Hoffner Park will start again after the parade ends. www.northsiderocks.com
Norwood Hometown Fireworks: 6-10 p.m. Thursday. Shea Stadium, 2603 Harris Ave., Norwood. Activities will include face painting, crafts, food vendors and a fireworks display at dusk. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Sharonville’s 4th on the Loop: Noon-3 p.m. Thursday. Downtown Sharonville. The annual parade will begin at the corner of Reading and Sharon roads in Sharonville and follow the entire downtown Sharonville loop. Live music, food and children’s activities will immediately follow at Depot Square, 11083 Reading Road, from 1-3 p.m. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Wyoming Independence Day Parade and Celebration: 10 a.m.-9:45 p.m. Thursday. Multiple locations, Wyoming. Wyoming’s annual patriotic events will begin with a parade from Oak Avenue to Wyoming Avenue at 10 a.m., followed by free swimming from noon-5 p.m. for all residents at the Family Aquatic Center. The fun will continue with the Muddy Pig Fun Run at North Park from 1-4 p.m., followed by inflatables, music and fireworks from 5:30-9:45 p.m. at Oak Park. www.wyomingohio.gov
HIGHLAND COUNTY
Festival of the Bells in Hillsboro: 5-11 p.m. Thursday; 9 a.m.-11 p.m. July 5; 7 a.m.-11 p.m. July 6. Southern State Community College, 100 Hobart Drive, Hillsboro. This year’s Festival of the Bells will begin with an opening ceremony starting at 5 p.m. Thursday, followed by a parade along Carl Smith Drive. Each day of the festival will feature races, group tournaments, food, games and live music. The musical lineup will include contemporary Christian artist Ryan Stevenson with special guest Lindsay Huggins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday; country artist Tyler Rich at 9 p.m. Friday; and country artist Devin Dawson at 9 p.m. Saturday. www.thefestivalofthebells.com
WARREN COUNTY
Mason's Red, Rhythm & Boom: 4-10 p.m. Wednesday. Mason Municipal campus, 5950 South Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason. Free admission. This year’s Red, Rhythm & Boom festivities will include a live performance by Grammy Award-nominated band Daughtry. The band Echosmith will take the stage at 6 p.m., followed by Daughtry at 8:30 p.m. Other festival highlights include a carnival, kid zone activities, games, adult beverages and food throughout the evening. Fireworks will cap off the evening at dusk. www.imaginemason.org
Lebanon’s Independence Day Parade and Celebration: 4-10 p.m. Wednesday. Colonial Park West, 720 N. Broadway St., Lebanon. Free. Lebanon will present an old-fashioned Independence Day Parade from 4-5 p.m. through downtown Lebanon, followed by an Independence Day Celebration at Colonial West Park from 6-10 p.m. Fun activities at the park will include live music, inflatables, a petting zoo, food vendors and fireworks. Music will begin at 7 p.m. www.mainstreetlebanon.org
IN KENTUCKY
BOONE COUNTY
Florence Celebrates Independence Day: 4-11 p.m. Wednesday. UC Health Stadium, 7950 Freedom Way, Florence. Activities include rides, games, kids’ activities, food vendors, live music, a vintage baseball game at 6 p.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m. www.florence-ky.gov
KENTON COUNTY
Sisters of Notre Dame Fourth of July Festival: 1-6 p.m. Thursday. Notre Dame Academy, 1601 Dixie Highway, Park Hills. Activities include games, food, drinks and a variety of family activities. All proceeds benefit the SND Uganda and East Africa missions, urban and early childhood education ministries and a retirement needs fund. www.sndky.org
Edgewood’s 4th of July Extravaganza: 7:30 a.m.-dusk Thursday. Freedom Park, 550 Freedom Park Drive, Edgewood. Events will include a 5K race at 7:30 a.m. from Presidents Park, 283 Dudley Road, followed by a parade that will begin at the Caywood Elementary School at 9:30 a.m. and conclude at the park. A free concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Freedom Park, 550 Freedom Park Drive, with fireworks at dusk. edgewoodky.gov
Fort Mitchell Fourth of July Parade: 12:30 p.m. Thursday. DCCH Center for Children and Families, 75 Orphanage Road, Fort Mitchell. Free. This year’s parade will begin at the Diocesan Catholic Children’s Home and conclude at Beechwood School, 54 Beechwood Road. A friendly reminder to Northern Kentucky residents: Dixie Highway will be closed from Orphanage Road to Beechwood Road from approximately noon to 1:30 p.m. for the parade. fortmitchell.com
City of Independence Fourth of July Celebration: 5-10 p.m. July 5; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. July 6. Memorial Park, 5409 Madison Pike, Independence. Free. The city of Independence will celebrate Independence Day with two days of rides, live music, food and drinks. On July 5, there also will be a dodgeball tournament and lantern launch at dusk. The festival will continue July 6 with a parade along Madison Pike starting at 3 p.m. and a fireworks display at dusk. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
IN INDIANA
OHIO COUNTY
Rising Sun Spectacular City Fireworks and Parade: 6:30-10:30 p.m. Wednesday. Rising Sun Main Street, 103 Walnut St., Rising Sun. Roll out the golf cart for Rising Sun’s annual Independence Day parade, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at 200 North Walnut St. The roll through town will conclude on Front Street, where there will be live music, food and beverage tents, followed by fireworks to end the evening. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
