Fireworks, festivals, fun times on tap

7/1/2013
BLADE STAFF

Editor's note: The date of the festivities in Waterville is Thursday, July 4, not Wednesday. 

Clear your throat and get ready for the next week with some vocal exercises:

Ooh. Ahhhhhh.

Ooooooooh. Ahhhhhhhhhhh.

The skies over northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan will be filled with fireworks over the next few days as the United States of America celebrates its 237th birthday with the annual Fourth of July blowout.

On July 4, downtown Toledo will be the place to be for a fireworks doubleheader, thanks to the massive Red, White, KABOOM 2013 display that will follow the Mud Hens’ fireworks at Fifth Third Field. The Hens play the Columbus Clippers and it’s a fireworks night.

Red, White, KABOOM is presented by The Blade and festivities start at 6 p.m. in Promenade Park downtown and in International Park on the east side of the river.

Music begins at 6 p.m. in Festival Park with Brynn & Emma & Friends followed by the Jamm Band featuring Bruce Sims about 7 until 10. Food and beverage vendors will be set up.

Fireworks begin at 10. They will be held over the river and will include synchronized music.

Independence Day celebrations elsewhere in the area include:

Bedford Township — Fireworks will be Friday at dusk. The fireworks will be at the Bedford Community Stadium, 8285 Jackman Rd.

Bowling Green — Fireworks will be Wednesday at dusk at the Bowling Green State University Intramural Fields.

Findlay — Entertainment and fireworks will be Wednesday at the Hancock County Fairgrounds, 1017 E. Sandusky St. Gospel singing is at 5 p.m., a rock band performance is at 7 p.m., and fireworks are at 10 p.m. There will be food vendors. Admission is free.

Fremont — Parade will step off at 10 a.m. Thursday, starting at State Street and Capitol Avenue. Fireworks start at 10 p.m. in Walsh Park, 754 Morrison St. The Independence Day Concert at the Hayes Presidential Center will run from 2 to 3:30 p.m., featuring the Toledo Symphony Concert Band. Civil War re-enactors will fire cannons during the performance of the 1812 Overture. Admission and parking are free. Attendees are asked to bring their own seats.

Luna Pier — Fireworks will be at dusk Saturday at Luna Pier on Lakewood Avenue. Community garage sales are set for Saturday.

Maumee — Festivities begin Wednesday at 6 p.m. at 100 E. Wayne St. The Maumee Community Band will play at Wayne and Conant streets and there will be bratwurst, hot dogs, ice cream, and more food. Fireworks will be visible from the Maumee-Perrysburg bridge at 10 p.m.

Monroe — Fireworks will be Wednesday at 9:45 p.m. over Lake Erie at Sterling State Park, 2800 State Park Rd. Live music is planned before the fireworks.

Oregon — The annual “Boomfest” will be Saturday at Oak Shade Grove, 3624 Seaman Rd. There will be a car show from 2 to 6 p.m., live music, and fireworks at dusk. Admission and parking are free. Food and drink concessions will be available as well.

Perrysburg — The Star Spangled Banner Celebration will be Wednesday from 4 to 11:45 p.m. at Fort Meigs State Memorial Park, 29100 W. River Rd. There will be carnival rides, pony rides, food, games, free crafts, glow merchandise, musical performances, and fireworks at dusk visible from the Perrysburg-Maumee Bridge. Admission is free. On Wednesday, an 18-gun National Salute will take place at Fort Meigs at 2 p.m. along with fife and drum music. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $4 for students, and free for children five and younger.

Port Clinton — Festivities Thursday include the Firecracker Cutie Contest at Trinity United Methodist Church at 4 p.m., an ice cream social at Trinity United Methodist Church in Adams Street Park at 5:30 p.m., and the gala parade beginning at 7 p.m. at Ottawa County Courthouse. At 8 p.m., the Voices of Freedom Port Clinton Community Choir will perform at Trinity United Methodist Church and there will also be a family dance party at the skate park area at Water Works Park. The evening will conclude with fireworks at Water Works Park at 10 p.m. Admission is free.

Sylvania — The Star Spangled Celebration will be Wednesday at Centennial Terrace, 5773 Centennial Rd. There will be live music, dancing, clowns, activities for children, food, and drink starting at 7 p.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m. The rain date for the celebration is July 4. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12. Fireworks will also be visible from Sylvania Pacesetter Park, 8801 Sylvania-Metamora Rd. Parking is $5 per vehicle at both locations. Families are encouraged to bring their own blankets and lawn chairs.

Waterville — Red, White and Boom festival with food vendors, a dunk tank, and other activities starts at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Waterville Primary School, with children’s activities open from 6 to 9 p.m. Fireworks start at 10 p.m.

Wauseon — On Thursday at Dorothy Biddle Park, there will be a home-run derby at 6 p.m., a Closest to the Pin Contest at 8 p.m. on Bank Field, and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament sponsored by the Wauseon Recreation Department. There will also be inflatables from 6 to 9 p.m. Fireworks sponsored by the fire department begin Thursday at 10 p.m. at Biddle Park.

Whitehouse — The annual Founders Day event will be Friday beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Village Hall, 6925 Providence St. The event includes a bounce house open from 5:30 to 9 p.m., live music from 6:30 p.m. to dusk, food the entire evening, and fireworks at dusk.