Find things to do with your family to celebrate Independence Day, whether it’s a parade, fireworks or a local festival. Check out these great events taking place throughout the weekend and on July 4 in the greater Cleveland/Akron area.
June 29-July 4
Red, White & Blue — Akron’s National Rib Festival. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Lock 3, 200 S. Main St., Akron, lock3live.com
June 30
Star Spangled Science. Guests can make Alka-Seltzer rockets, see what happens when a chemical reaction is set off inside a watermelon, explore chemistry and physics during the Red, White and Boom Science Spectacular, exercise their creativity with a make-and-take light-up Duck Tape wearable activity, learn about color and chromatography in a BASF Kids’ Lab demonstration, and more. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Great Lakes Science Center, 601 Erieside Ave., Cleveland, greatscience.com
July 1
Boom! A celebration featuring food trucks, live music, street performers, face-painters, balloon artists, fireworks at dusk & much more. 7-11 p.m. Great Northern Mall, 4954 Great Northern Blvd., North Olmsted, 440-716-4142, celebratenortholmsted.com
Liberty Fest. Join Crocker Park to celebrate the kick off of Independence Day and all that is great about America with family-friendly entertainment and celebration beginning at noon. Crocker Park, 189 Crocker Park Blvd., Westlake, crockerpark.com
July 3-4
A Salute to America. Great music, fireworks, and fun for the whole family. 8 p.m. Blossom Music Center, 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, clevelandorchestra.com
July 3-11
Medina Bicentennial 1818-2018. Nine days of special events to celebrate the bicentennial. 7/3 fireworks at dusk. 7/4 parade on the square at 4 p.m. 7/6 Rockin’ the Park ‘n’ Pool. Complete schedule can be found at mainstreetmedina.com
July 4
Rock and Boom. Celebrate Independence Day from the deck of the Steamship William G. Mather and watch Cleveland’s fireworks. 8-11 p.m. Great Lakes Science Center, 601 Erieside Ave., Cleveland, 216-694-2000, greatscience.com
Old Glory Days. Children’s parade, games, music, face painting, balloon animals and pie eating contest. 1-4 p.m. Chardon Square/Gazebo, Short Court Street, chardonchamber.com
July 4th Concert & Fireworks. Spectacular fireworks display can be viewed from Civic Center Park and Mentor High School. 8-10:30 p.m.The Mentor Civic Amphitheater, 8600 Munson Road, and Civic Center Park, 8600 Munson Road, Mentor, cityofmentor.com
Lakewood 4th of July Celebration. Parade at 10 a.m. followed by festivities in Lakewood Park, concert from 7-9:30 p.m. and fireworks at 9:45 p.m. onelakewood.com
6th Annual Independence Day Pool Party. Beat the afternoon heat by the pool with family and friends. Family activities, poolside DJ, and rocket car rides will be provided. 2-6 p.m. Thornton Park, 3301 Warrensville Center Road, Shaker Hts., shakeronline.com
Fireworks in Flight. Join Naturalist Becca Zak to search for vibrant and vivid daytime fireworks: butterflies, birds and dragonflies. 10:30 a.m.-noon. Springfield Bog Metropark, 1400 Portage Line Road, Springfield Twp., summitmetroparks.org
July 4-8
Fairport Mardi Gras. Rides, games, food and fireworks at the beach on the fourth of July weekend. Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park, 220 Third St., 440-352-3620, fairportmardigras.vpweb.com
July 5
Hudson Fireworks Celebration. Fireworks begin at dusk. Barlow Farm Park, 2100 Barlow Road, 330-256-8704, myhcf.org
Kevin
Hudson Fireworks are on Friday, July 5th. The rain date is the 6th.