Area celebrations sparkle during July 4 holiday week

6/30/2002

Two churches - Cathedral of Praise, 5225 West Alexis Rd., Sylvania, and Calvary Assembly of God, 5025 Glendale Ave. - will host fireworks displays today.

The cathedral's Freedom Celebration starts at 5 p.m., with free carnival rides, sports events, entertainment, and fireworks at 10 p.m.

This is the fourth year for Calvary's FireFall, which starts at 6 p.m. with activities for children and music, including an appearance by the Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra. The event culminates with fireworks at 10 p.m. accompanied by the church's choir.

On Independence Day, a gathering at Walbridge Park in South Toledo from 10 a.m. to noon will feature a bike parade, a pie-baking contest, and a clown who turns balloons into animals.

Toledo's fireworks will be touched off at 10 p.m. Thursday on the Maumee River in the downtown area. Leading up to the display will be entertainment in Promenade Park, beginning at 1 p.m. The Northcoast Concert Band will perform at 8 p.m., just before CitiFest's “Light the Night.”

Other area celebrations include:

ADRIAN

A “Let Freedom Ring”-themed parade begins at 10 a.m. Thursday at Maumee and Greenly streets in front of the Adrian Plaza, then travels along Maumee to the fairgrounds.

BOWLING GREEN

Fireworks at dusk on Thursday at Bowling Green State University near the stadium. Free parking will be available in the university's parking lots. Also on Thursday, the BGSU Ice Arena will hold a free open skate session from 7 to 9 p.m.

BRYAN

Fireworks east of the football stadium at dusk is the final event in the Day-in-the-Park festivities today, which include a re-enactment encampment, antique car show, games, a chicken barbecue, and concessions — all at Recreation Park. A radio remote-control car race will take place at the ice rink, where the City Band will play at 8 p.m.

CLYDE

Starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, the recreation department will host all-day activities, including a softball tournament, at Community Park. Activities will culminate with fireworks at dusk.

DEFIANCE

On Wednesday, D&D Putting Amusements will have rides at Kingsbury Park during the day. Other activities include a community picnic at 4 p.m. and a ski show at 7 p.m. The day will conclude with fireworks at the park at dusk. On Thursday, the Daughters of the American Revolution will host an open house at Riverside Chapel from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

FINDLAY

On Wednesday, a chicken barbecue starts at 5 p.m. at Riverside Park followed by a patriotic ceremony and Civic Concert Band performance. On Independence Day, the Findlay Recreation Department will sponsor games, swimming, and boating from noon to 5 p.m., also at Riverside Park. On Thursday, the Hancock County Fairgrounds will have games, concessions, rides, and music, starting at 3 p.m., culminating with fireworks at 10 p.m. Admission to the fairgrounds is $10 per vehicle. Fireworks also will be at the Findlay Country Club at dusk.

FREMONT

A parade will start at 10 a.m. Thursday at Birchard Park and ends at Rodger Young Park. Fireworks will begin at dusk, with the best viewing from Rodger Young Park and Walsh Park.

GRAND RAPIDS

For those seeking a touch of history on the historic day, the Canal Experience at Providence Metropark near Grand Rapids, Ohio, will take visitors back to the 1800s with historical re-enactments from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday.

HILLSDALE

A parade will start at 6 p.m. Thursday at Hillsdale College and proceed to the fairgrounds, where there will be a fireworks display at dusk.

The Fourth of July Festival will begin on Tuesday and last through Saturday at the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds. The Carson & Barnes Circus will have performances at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

LIMA

An all-day celebration at Faurot Park on Thursday will start with a 5K run, and include a fishing derby, music, vendors, and fireworks at dusk. The symphony orchestra will play before and during the fireworks.

MAUMEE

The Uptown Business Association is sponsoring a prefireworks celebration from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday at the Community Center, 222 Conant St. The event will feature the Maumee Community Band, juggling, and food. The celebration ends in time for a joint fireworks show with Perrysburg.

MONROE

Fireworks at dusk Wednesday at the Monroe County Fairgrounds.

NAPOLEON

Festivities begin tomorrow with the boat ramp grand re-opening at 5 p.m. and last through Thursday. Events include a hole-in-one contest tomorrow, Tuesday and Wednesday at Glenwood Park, a Big Wheel Race tomorrow, basketball tournaments on Tuesday and Thursday, and a concert in the park on Wednesday evening. Thursday activities include a basketball contest, a midday free swim, a noon barbecue, and fireworks at 10 p.m. at Glenwood Park.

NORWALK

A parade starts at 10:30 a.m. Thursday on East Main Street in front of the old high school; fireworks will start about 9:45 p.m. at the Huron County Fairgrounds.

OAK HARBOR

The annual Independence Day Celebration will take place Friday, starting at 6 p.m. with the Class A Dancers, followed by other performances along the riverbank, until the “American Heroes”-themed fireworks show at 10 p.m.

The Speds, the festival's feature band, will perform in the tent at 9 p.m.

PERRYSBURG-MAUMEE

A joint fireworks display by the two cities will start about 10 p.m. Wednesday on the Maumee River that runs between the two cities. A prefireworks concert at Fort Meigs will start at 8:15. In Perrysburg, police will close the northbound lane of Fort Meigs Road to all non-emergency traffic between 9 and 11 p.m.

PORT CLINTON

On Wednesday, there'll be an ice cream social at Adams Street Park followed by a concert at 7 p.m. On Thursday, there'll be a parade at 1 p.m. that starts at the high school and heads to the armory. An ice cream social starts at 3 p.m. at Adams Street Park, where the Community Band will play at 4 p.m. At dusk, fireworks will be fired off at Water Works Park on Perry Street.

PUT-IN-BAY

On Thursday, a naturalization ceremony for new citizens will take place at 11 a.m. on the plaza at Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial. A fireworks show will begin about 10 p.m., with the best viewing from Memorial lawn. Parking will be available on the East lawn.

SANDUSKY

The city's Stars and Stripes Celebration starts at 9 a.m. Thursday in Washington Park, lasting until 4 p.m., with vendors and music. Cedar Point will shoot off fireworks at about 10:30 p.m.

SWANTON

There'll be a fireworks display on Wednesday at the Swanton High School football stadium, starting about 9:30 p.m., with entertainment a couple of hours before. The rain date is Thursday.

On Thursday, , the Methodist Church will host a chicken barbecue about 11 a.m., the same time as the firemen's Main Street parade.

And on Friday evening, the chamber of commerce will host a party in Memorial Park, starting at 6 p.m.

SYLVANIA

The Star-Spangled Celebration on Wednesday, will last from 7 p.m. to midnight at Centennial Terrace, with fireworks about 10 p.m. The festivities include live music, clowns, rides, and food and drink. Admission is $3 and no outside food or beverages are allowed. Fireworks can also be seen from Sylvania Pacesetter Park. Parking for both locations is $3.

TIFFIN

Activities start at noon on Thursday at Hedges Boyer Park with swimming pool games until 3 p.m. and other games, such as an inflatable slide and a Velcro wall from 2 to 8 p.m. The event will feature a Big Wheel race, pet parade, and money hunt. The fireworks will start at dusk.

UPPER SANDUSKY

Fireworks are scheduled Saturday at dusk at the Upper Sandusky High School. The fire department is having a chicken barbecue on Thursday , at the fire department, 120 North Seventh Street, from 4 to 6 p.m.

VAN WERT

Holiday at Home activities on Thursday start with a pancake and sausage breakfast at the VFW on Jackson and Shannon streets from 7 to 11 a.m.

In Jubilee Park, the Firecracker Century Bike Tour IX will begin at 7 a.m. At Fountain Park, activities begin at 9 a.m. and include music, food, and the D.A.R.E car show.

Other activities Thursday include a parade at 11 a.m. and, starting at the same time, the Annual Craft Fair and Flea Market. There'll be a chicken barbecue from 3 to 7 p.m. in Smiley Park, where there will be a rubber duck race and music in the evening. Fireworks will begin about 10 p.m.

WATERVILLE

Fireworks will start at dusk Thursday behind the new fire station on Waterville-Monclova Road. The viewing area is at the Waterville Primary School. Rain date is Saturday.

WAUSEON

Thursday's activities include a free swim at the public pool from noon to 6 p.m., and a hole-in-one contest and home run derby at Diamond Four. Fireworks will be at the football field at dusk.

WOODVILLE

Fireworks Saturday at dusk in Trailmarker Park end the four-day-long July 4th celebration. The celebration begins on Wednesday with a kiddie parade at 7 p.m. starting at the American Legion Hall and ending at the park, where there will be music and concessions. On Thursday and Saturday at the park, events include a Kiddie Matinee with rides from 1 to 5 p.m., and music and concessions in the evening. On Friday, the celebration starts in the evening at the park, with tethered hot air balloon rides.