A boom of local Independence Day events

INDEPENDENCE DAY: 3 BIG ways to celebrate the Fourth of July

LIBERTY TWP.

There will be two Fourth of July events in Liberty Twp. on Sunday, July 1.

Red, White and Liberty takes place in the Park and Square at Liberty Center from noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday, July 1. The party includes face painting, games, crafts, a green screen and live music by the soul band Smoooth. CQ

At 2:30 p.m., the Red Wagon parade starts, with prizes for Best in Show, Most Patriotic, and Most Creative.

The second event is Light Up Liberty, a family-oriented, alcohol-free party, runs from 6 to 10:15 p.m. at the Princeton Pike Church of God. That event includes food, live music, carnival rides, a car show and fireworks.

OXFORD

Oxford will celebrate the nation’s independence with a traditional two-night party bringing the community together in two locations.

Freedom Festival 2018’s parade and concert Uptown is set for today. However, food, games and fireworks by American Fireworks at Community Park is set for Tuesday, July 3.

This year there will be a $5 charge for cars entering the Community Park for the July 3 activities.

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July 2 activities Uptown will begin with the parade at 6:30 p.m. with the theme “Rockin’ in the USA” at the corner of College Avenue and High Street. The route will head east up High Street to Poplar. The Community Band will play, starting just after 6 p.m.

After the parade, there will be a 7 p.m. concert in the park featuring Thunder Bay on the Performance Pavilion stage.

July 3 activities at the Community Park will begin at 6 p.m.

There will be a rock climbing wall, giant inflatables, games, stilt walkers, a strolling magician, face painting and trackless train. There will also be hot air balloon rides again this year for a charge.

Rain date for the July 3 activities is July 4 with times the same.

FAIRFIELD

Red, White and Kaboom will begin in the late afternoon and early evening on Tuesday, July 3.

This year’s Independence Day celebration activities start at varying times:

• At Marsh Lake, which features its popular Red, White & Fish is from 5 to 11 p.m. There is a $5 fee (free to season pass holders).

• At the Fairfield Aquatic Center, the pool is opened from 7 to 11 p.m. for the annual Fireworks Swim event. The pool will be open during the day (noon to 6 p.m.) but will close an hour before the Fireworks Swim. Regular admission prices will be charged (free to pass holders).

• Harbin Park and Village Green Park: Food vendors are expected to be set up by 7 p.m. and bands will begin playing at 8 p.m.

Food vendors scheduled to be at Village Green include Donatos, Masonic Lodge, Piggin N Grinnin, S.E.A. Cuisine, Amazing Grace Kettlercorn, Fabulous Funnel Cakes & More, and Flubs. Food vendors scheduled to be at Harbin include Bone’s Brothers, Food Fellas, Hammann’s Catering, Dapper Doughnut and Kona Ice.

Fireworks will launch at 10 p.m. from Harbin Park, but are visible from most parts of the city.

MASON

Red, Rhythm and Boom is the city of Mason’s annual Fourth of July party on Tuesday, July 3.

The Fray and Five for Fighting are the featured performers for the concert.

The party also features food and drinks, and a kids’ zone that includes a zip line and air trampolines.

The event is from 4 to 10 p.m. at the Mason Municipal Center, 6000 S. Mason Montgomery Road, Mason. There is no admission for the event, but kids’ zones wristbands are $5.

The Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks show will begin at 10 p.m.

HAMILTON

The theme of this year’s Hamilton’s Independence Day Parade and Patriotic Program is “Celebrating Hamilton’s 17 Strong Neighborhoods.” But Laurin Sprague, co-chairman of the day-long event with Mayor Pat Moeller, also calls it “the Traditional Hamilton 4th of July.”

The parade starts at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 4 followed by a noon patriotic program.

Free concerts will be offered at the RiversEdge Amphitheater in Marcum Park. A fireworks show by Yokum Fireworks is set to begin at 10 p.m. The fireworks will be visible from many places along the river, including Marcum Park.

From the parade until after the fireworks, a Taste of Hamilton will be offered on High Street at the county courthouse. Local historical sites will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

LIBERTY TWP.

Liberty Twp. will have its annual Fourth of July 5K Run for Liberty and community parade on Wednesday, July 4.

The 5K Run for Liberty is a certified 3.1-mile course that will begin and end at the Lakota East High School stadium. Race day registration begins at 7 a.m. and the race begins at 8 a.m.

The Fourth of July parade will follow the 5K at around 10 a.m.

The parade will begin at Lakota East High School and end at the Lakota Family YMCA. A brief ceremony recognizing parade Grand Marshal and lifelong Butler County resident Betty Terry will follow at Liberty Park.

Terry and her family are the known developers and was behind the Carriage Hill development.

MONROE

Light Up the Sky is set to begin at noon on Wednesday, July 4.

The annual parade will go from Kroger to Community Park on Main Street. This year’s parade grand marshal is Madison Smallwood, an 11-year-old who was diagnosed with metastatic Osteosarcoma in July 2015.

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Also at noon, at Community Park, people can watch the Losantiville Black Stockings play a vintage baseball game against the Tippecanoe Canal Jumpers.

There will be activities for kids and families, and music will begin at 1 p.m.

The fireworks show by Rozzi’s will begin at dark.

MIDDLETOWN

Middletown’s Fourth of July Fireworks and Broad Street Blast event is set for Tuesday, July 3 at Smith Park.

AC/DC tribute band Thunderstruck will headline the concert with The Magnums.

The event is set to run from 5 to 10 p.m. A couple hours before the fireworks show, there will be the playing of the National Anthem and a flag jump by Fastrax skydivers.

About 15 minutes before the fireworks show, there will be a pyro jump with Fastrax skydivers. The fireworks display is produced by Rozzi’s Fireworks.

FRANKLIN

The “Wettest Parade in Ohio” kicks off at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 4 from the Lion’s Bridge to South Main Street, and then along Sixth Street before ending at the Franklin Community Park.

The activities take a pause until 6 p.m. at the Franklin Community Park when the Rusty Griswolds perform.

This year there will be an expanded list of food vendors and food trucks, a beer garden and a kids activity zone.

A Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks show will kick off at dark.

OXFORD

In the Oxford area, there is the Old Fashion Fourth of July celebration at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4 at Grove Ball Park in College Corner.

Then on Thursday, July 5, there's Thunder Thursday at Hueston Woods lodge. A cookout starts at 5 p.m. and fireworks are set for dusk. No coolers are permitted.