Find out how your town in central Ohio is celebrating the Fourth of July weekend!
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Independence Day celebrations have been low-key, socially distanced, and held among family and friends. However, this year, they are back in full swing across all communities.
July 4th through the years: Columbus has seen all manner of Independence Day celebrations
From live music to good food to parades to fireworks, there is something for everyone on this Fourth of July.
Many communities across central Ohio have events scheduled for the entire weekend, beginning on July 1.
Below is a list of what communities in central Ohio have planned for the holiday, and websites to find out more information on their festivities.
All events are free and will take place on July 4 unless otherwise noted.
Delaware County
• Delaware: Festivities will begin at 3 p.m. with the annual parade, which will start from the fairgrounds main gate on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Fireworks will begin at dusk. They will launch from the city’s Cherry Street property, with viewing along Henry Street, Sandusky Street and the Ohio Wesleyan University athletic practice fields. Information: https://www.delawareohio.net
• Sunbury: Sunbury Square will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be an antiques, arts and crafts fair. For $5 per child and a family cap of $20, guests gain unlimited access to the Kid Zone from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., including bounce houses and midway games. At 12:30 p.m., there will be a hot dog-eating contest on the Square, and at 6 p.m., the celebration will move to old Big Walnut High School, 555 S. Old 3C Highway, for a festival and fireworks at 10 p.m.
Information: 740-965-2860 or https://business.sunburybigwalnutchamber.com/events
Fairfield County
• Lancaster: The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the Columbus Street exit of the fairgrounds. As soon as the parade is finished, gates to park at the fairgrounds will open. The only entrance will be located at Broad Street. Starting at 2 p.m., there will be a crafts show under the grandstands. Then at 8 p.m., DJ Mike O’Reilly and headliner Slaw Dog will perform “Music From the Main Stage” until the fireworks begin at 10 p.m.
Information: https://www.4thofjulylancaster.com/
• Pickerington: The celebration will begin with a parade at 10 a.m. along Opportunity Way. Fireworks will begin at 10 p.m. at Pickerington High School Central, 300 Opportunity Way.
Information: 614-833-2211 or https://bit.ly/3QP2Wy1
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Franklin County
• Bexley: The celebration will kick off with the John Barr 5K at 8 a.m. The cost to register before the event is $30. To register the day of, it will be $35. The parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Remington Road and Maryland Avenue. From 6 to 11 p.m., there will be live music as well as a spotlight for veterans and first responders on Capital University’s Main Street lawn.
Fireworks will begin on the lawn around 10:30 p.m.
Information: https://bexley.org/fourth/
• Columbus: The annual Doo Dah Music Fest and Parade, Goodale Park, 120 W. Goodale St., will step off at 1:01 p.m. The organizers of the 39th parade invite everyone to celebrate “liberty and lunacy,” and then stick around for some music. Angela An, a news anchor on WBNS-TV (Channel 10), will be the “less-than-grand marshal.” Line up begins at noon on Park Street (doodahparade.com)
• Dublin: The celebration will kick off with the Sherm Sheldon Fishing Derby at 8 a.m. at Avery Park Pond (corner of Wynford Drive and Avery Road). At 11 a.m., the parade will begin at Metro Center in downtown Dublin. At 4:30 p.m., the evening celebration will take place at Dublin Coffman High School, 6780 Coffman Road. Rascal Flatts frontman and central Ohio native Gary LeVox will headline.
Fireworks will begin at 9:50 p.m. at the high school..
Information: visit https://dublinohiousa.gov/independence-day-celebration/
• Gahanna: The celebration will start at 5:30 p.m. on Friday at the Gahanna Municipal Golf Course, 220 Olde Ridenour Road, featuring food and live music. Then at 10 p.m., there will be fireworks at the golf course.
On Saturday, the 2nd annual Red, White and Blue Block party will be held from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the Gahanna Sanctuary, 82 N. High St., and will feature live music.
Finally, on the Fourth of July, the parade will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the Sanctuary.
Information: https://www.gahanna.gov/independenceday/
• Grove City: The celebration will start at 3 p.m. Saturday with a performance by the Central Ohio Brass Band in Town Center Park, 3359 Park St.
The fireworks will take place at 9:45 p.m. Saturday at Murfin Fields, 4570 Haughn Road, with simulcast music on WLVQ (96.3 FM) radio.
Information: https://www.grovecityohio.gov/topic/grovecityfireworks/
• Groveport: Groveport will have two parades. At 10 a.m., the Red, White and Kids parade will begin at Middle School Central, 751 Main St. No registration is required. At 11 a.m., the main parade will kick off at Richardson Road and prior registration is required to participate. From 1 to 6 p.m., there will be kids’ activities on Wirt Road. There will also be live music from 2 to 9:45 p.m. on Wirt Road.
Fireworks will begin at dusk.
Information: https://www.groveport.org/449/July-4th
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• Hilliard: Freedom Fest will take place on Saturday at Municipal Park, 3800 Veterans Memorial Drive. There will be food trucks from 3 to 11 p.m. and a Kid Zone from 5 to 9 p.m. There will be live music from country artists Lee Gantt at 5:15 p.m., Alexandra Kay at 6:45 p.m., and Dylan Scott at 8:20 p.m.
Davidson High School student Lisa Curtis will sing the national anthem at 9:45 p.m., and fireworks will begin shortly after.
Information: https://hilliardohio.gov/freedom-fest/
• New Albany: Festivities will begin with a parade at 11 a.m. beginning at the New Albany Primary School, 87 N. High St. Then, at 6 p.m. on the New Albany Middle School lawn, 6600 E. Dublin-Granville Road, there will be a free festival featuring live entertainment, bounce houses, face painters, balloon twisters and caricature artists. Food and beverages available for purchase from food trucks.
Fireworks will begin at 9:45 p.m. at New Albany Middle School.
Information: https://bit.ly/3A2ApiG
• Northland: The parade will begin at 11 a.m. near the intersection of Morse and Karl roads.
Information: https://northlandparade.org/
• Reynoldsburg: The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Rosehill Road and Main Street.
Information: https://bit.ly/3I3n9MM
• Upper Arlington: Festivities begin at 9 a.m. with a parade, which begins at Donatos on Northwest Boulevard. At 5:30 p.m., the Party in the Park at Northam Park, 2070 Northam Road, opens. There will be live music, parade float awards and food. Fireworks begin at 10 p.m.
Information: https://directors1933.uaca.org/wordpress/events/independence-day/
• Westerville: The celebration begins with a 5K Run-Walk at 8 a.m. at the Westerville Sports Complex, 325 N. Cleveland Ave., with a Children’s Fun Run at 9:15 a.m. The Rotary Club of Westerville Independence Day Parade will step off on State Street at 10:30 a.m. The parade route begins at Old County Line Road and proceeds south to Electric Avenue. The Independence Day Celebration festival will begin at 4 p.m. at the sports complex. There will be food trucks and live music.
Fireworks will launch at 10 p.m. from Heritage Park, 60 N. Cleveland Ave.
Information: https://westervillerotary.com/
• Whitehall: Independence Day coincides with Whitehall’s 75th anniversary of incorporation. Their Fireworks Viewing Party, “Celebrating 75 Years of Opportunity,” is from 6 to 10 p.m. Sunday at Whitehall Yearling High School, 675 S. Yearling Road. Tickets and/or proof of residency are required for entry. Tickets are available at City Hall until 5 p.m. on Friday.
Information, https://whitehall-oh.us/429/Fireworks-Viewing-Party
• Worthington: The 17th annual Rotary Family Picnic is from 4 to 9 p.m. on the lawn of Thomas Worthington High School, 300 W. Dublin-Granville Road, with fireworks to follow at dusk. There will be food trucks and music.
Information: https://www.facebook.com/DublinWorthingtonRotary/
Licking County
• Granville: There will be a full schedule of events Friday through Monday in Downtown Granville. There will be live music and food from noon to 11 p.m.
Fireworks will take place at 10 p.m. Friday at Wildwood Park, 785 W. Broadway. A mile-long parade will begin in Downtown Granville at 10:45 a.m. on Monday.
For the full schedule: http://www.granville4th.com/schedule
• Utica: The Village of Utica’s Fourth of July celebration is from 4 to 9 p.m. at South End Park, 60 Blacksnake Road. There will be live music, food, a cornhole tournament and bounce houses. Fireworks will follow at 9:45.
Information: https://www.facebook.com/VillageOfUtica/
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Madison County
• Plain City: An all-day celebration will take place at Pastime Park, 370 N. Chillicothe St. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. For the rest of the day, there will be a farmers market, live music, bounce houses and a DJ.
Fireworks will begin at 9:45 p.m.
Information: https://www.plain-city.com/services-2
• West Jefferson: Saturday through Monday, West Jefferson will have rides, food and live music downtown on South Center Street and Pearl Street.
At the same location on July 4, the parade will begin at 11 a.m. Their fireworks will begin at 10 p.m.
Information: visit https://www.facebook.com/westjeffstreetfest/
Pickaway County
• Ashville: Live music, contests, rides, karaoke and food will be offered throughout the entire weekend at the Savings Bank Stage, 501 Long St. The parade will take place at 11 a.m. on July 4, and fireworks at 10 p.m.
For the full schedule: http://ashville4thofjuly.com/
Union County
• Marysville: The Independence Day Parade will take place at 10 a.m., beginning at American Legion Park, 205 Park Ave. Then, their fireworks will begin at dusk at the Union County Fairgrounds at 845 N. Main Street.
Information: https://bit.ly/3niXCpa
David Kwiatkowski is a features intern for The Columbus Dispatch. You can reach him on Twitter @kwiatkdm or his email dkwiatkowski@gannett.com.
