Need some ideas for your Fourth of July fun? Check out a few Independence Day celebrations about town, and then head to our calendar of events for even more good ideas all month long!
Saturday, July 2
FREE FOURTH OF JULY JAM
Celebrate July 4 by jammin’ with some live music from Subterranean, Love Alive and more, plus activities for the kids, games, a photo booth, and more. Washington Park, 1230 Elm Street; 3 – 11 p.m.; washingtonpark.org.
PATRIOTIC POPS
Join JMR and the Cincinnati Pops as they partner with the USO for its 75th anniversary celebration in this Independence Day spectacular. Complete with singers, dancers, and your patriotic Pops, there’s no better way to celebrate America’s birthday. All ticket holders for Patriotic Pops get free classic rides at Coney Island all day on July 2. Riverbend Music Center, 6201 Kellogg Avenue; 8 p.m.; kids younger than 17 sit free on the lawn, adult tickets start at $15; cincinnatipops.org.
FREE PREPARE FOR THE FOURTH!
Get ready to celebrate the Fourth of July with a full day of holiday activities. Make Independence Day hats, flags and more to show off in the Fourth of July Northside Parade! Happen, Inc., 4201 Hamilton Avenue; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; 513-751-2345 or happeninc.com.
Sunday, July 3
FREE INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION
Enjoy rides, food, music, a cruise-in and fireworks! UC Health Stadium/Florence Freedom, 7950 Freedom Way, Florence; 4 – 11 p.m.; florence-ky.gov.
LAROSA’S BALLOON GLOW
Bring the family for live music, entertainment, classic rides and an extraordinary display of hot air balloons, all culminating in a spectacular Rozzi Fireworks show. Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Avenue; 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; $5 per person, $9 parking before 2 p.m., $12 parking after 2 p.m., normal rates apply for Sunlite Pool and Coney’s Classic Rides; coneyislandpark.com.
FREE LEBANON INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION
Bring the family for a hometown parade, followed by live entertainment, free activities, a petting zoo and more. Downtown Lebanon; 4 – 10:30 p.m.; lebanonohio.gov.
FREE RED RHYTHM & BOOM
The fun begins with a carnival and kid zone, complete with ziplines, extreme air trampolines, a climbing wall, bounce houses, strolling entertainment and more. Stick around for stage entertainment, including Andy Grammar, and a Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks display at 10 p.m. Mason Municipal and Community Center campus, 6050 Mason Montgomery Road; 4 – 10 p.m.; imaginemason.org.
FREE RED, WHITE & KABOOM!
Fairfield’s annual Independence Day celebration includes festivities at the Harbin Park (1300 Hunter Road), Village Green Park (301 Wessel Drive), and music, games, food and more at the Fairfield Aquatic Center (2605 Augusta Blvd.) 8:30 p.m.; 513-867-5348 or fairfield-city.org/kaboom.
Monday, July 4
FREE 51ST ANNUAL INDEPENDENCE DAY FIREWORKS
Celebrate the holiday at Ault Park with your crew and enjoy a day full of fun and an evening with a spectacular fireworks show. Ault Park, 3600 Observatory Avenue; 11 a.m.; aultparkac.org.
AMERICAN LIMITED
Take a trip back in time and find yourself in the middle of the action as a Union Army detachment protects the U.S. Government Payroll from a relentless group of Confederate soldiers known as Morgan’s Raiders. Whitewater Valley Railroad, Grand Central Station, 455 Market Street, Connersville; 12:01 p.m.; $24 adults, $15 children (round trip); 765-825-2054 or whitewatervalleyrr.org.
FREE FOURTH OF JULY
Celebrate Independence Day with an afternoon festival full of fun events, games, and entertainment. Montgomery Park, 10105 Montgomery Road; 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.; montgomeryohio.org.
FREE HAPPEN’S FAMILY FUN FEST
Join Happen, Inc. at Hoffner Park directly after the Northside Parade and experience the Family Fun Fest with lots of free art activities and live music. Hoffner Park, 4101 Hamilton Avenue; 1:30 p.m.; 513-751-2345 or happeninc.com.
JULY 4 AT THE BEACH
Head to the Beach to celebrate July 4, and enjoy $1 hot dogs! The Beach Waterpark, 2590 Water Park Drive, Mason; 10 a.m.; free with admission (general admission $28.99 adults, $23.99 children under 48″); 513-398-7946 or thebeachwaterpark.com.
FREE JULY 4 EXTRAVAGANZA
Kick off Independence Day with a morning 5K race (or walk) and a children’s fun run, followed by a parade, and an evening concert and fireworks show. Presidents Park, 385 Dudley Road, Edgewood; 7:30 a.m.; edgewoodky.gov/july-4th-extravaganza.
PRAY HOPE BELIEVE 5K
Help support pediatric brain cancer research in this fifth annual 5K walk and run. Enjoy a special flag ceremony at 8:15 a.m., kids games and more. Colerain Township Municipal Complex, 4200 Springdale Road; 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.; $15 – $30; prayhopebelieve.org.
FREE RED WHITE & BLUE ASH
Bring the whole gang for a day filled with music, food, festivities and fun in this annual festival that celebrates the Fourth of July and culminates in a dazzling fireworks display. Blue Ash Summit Park, Glendale Milford Road; 4 – 10:35 p.m.; 513-745-8550 or blueashevents.com.
FREE SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME 4TH OF JULY FESTVIVAL
Enjoy some family-friendly fun, all while benefiting the SND Uganda and East Africa missions, the SND urban and early childhood education ministries, and the SND retirement needs. Sisters of Notre Dame, 1601 Dixie Highway, Covington; 1 – 6 p.m.; sndky.org.