Cincinnati Fourth of July Fireworks and Festivities

Northside Fourth of July Parade Photo: Hailey Bollinger

TUESDAY 03

LaRosa’s Balloon Glow — Watch the sky illuminate with more than 30 hot air balloons of every color before a demonstration of Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks explode over the banks of Lake Como during the 19th-annual LaRosa’s Balloon Glow at Coney Island. Make Balloon Glow an all-day experience for the whole family by enjoying Coney’s rides, entertainment and Sunlite Water Adventure (open until 11 p.m.). Live music starts at Moonlite Square Gazebo at 6 p.m. and balloons begin to glow at 8 p.m. 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Tuesday. $9 parking until 2 p.m.; $12 parking after 2 p.m.; normal rates apply for Sunlite Water Adventure and Coney Island rides and attractions. Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave., California, coneyislandpark.com.

Northside Rock & Roll Carnival — July in Northside means one thing: Rock & Roll (and parades). Hang out at historic Jacob Hoffner Park for two days of food, talent and sweet, sweet music from local favorites like The Harlequins and Leggy as well as a few out-of-towners like NYC-based The Paisley Fields. The Carnival kicks off with music starting at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Get out early on the Fourth of July for Kegs and Eggs at 10 a.m. and the Northside Fourth of July Parade at noon with live music starting right after. In between sets, enjoy spoken word pieces showcased by Wordplay Cincinnati and family-friendly activities provided by Happen Inc. As always, the Carnival is free for all ages, so even the littlest Punks-in-training can hang with the rest of us. 3 p.m.-1 a.m. Tuesday; 2-10 p.m. Wednesday. Free. Jacob Hoffner Park, 1618 Blue Rock St., Hamilton Ave., Northside, facebook.com/northsiderocks.

All-American Fundraiser at The Overlook Lodge — The Overlook transforms into a 1940s Bob Hope/Bing Crosby-style USO show to honor active military and veterans in advance of the Fourth of July. Hosted by Ray Anderson, there will be musical performances by Oddly OK and The Whiskey Shambles, and a portion of sales and raffle proceeds will benefit the local chapter of the USO and 22 to Valhalla. 7 p.m.-midnight. Free admission. The Overlook Lodge, 6083 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, facebook.com/overlooklodge.

WEDNESDAY 04

Northside Fourth of July Parade — The most colorful parade in Cincinnati kicks off at noon on Wednesday. The annual Northside Fourth of July Parade — happening every year since 1970 — is an all-out celebration of independence, community, small business and individuality. Expect to see creative handmade floats from vintage stores, bars and community organizations; local marching bands; drill teams; every politician you’ve ever heard of; ladies dancing with lawn chairs; guys dancing with power tools; and other unexpected and delightful displays of pride and spirit. The parade culminates with the second day of the Northside Rock N’ Roll Carnival in Hoffner Park (4101 Hamilton Ave., Northside). Live music starts directly after the parade ends — or you can get there early to fuel up for the parade with kegs and eggs at 10 a.m. The fest continues into the night with more live music, food trucks, a beer garden serving MadTree and Urban Artifact, vendors and kids activities (see above). Noon-2 p.m. Wednesday. Free. Hamilton Avenue, Northside, northsidejuly4.com, northsiderocks.com.

Red, White and Blue Ash — Celebrating the Fourth of July follows a certain schedule. The mornings are for parades, barbecues last into the evening and the night is for one thing and one thing only: fireworks. Once all the hamburgers have been eaten and the grills are cold, head up I-71 to Red, White and Blue Ash for the biggest fireworks show in the Tri-State. The event kicks off at 4 p.m. with carnival games and rides for the whole family. Grab a food truck snack and listen to live music from John Waite at 6 p.m., followed by Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo at 8:15 p.m. Stay past sunset to watch the annual fireworks show at 10 p.m., which draws thousands of people every year. 4-11 p.m. Wednesday. Free. Summit Park, 4335 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash, blueashevents.com.

Patriotic Pops — The Cincinnati Pops salute the red, white and blue with a Patriotic Pops performance at Riverbend. The US Army Chorus will join John Morris Russell and the orchestra to perform a series of American classics, including “America the Beautiful” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.” Along with a musical salute to every branch of the military, the evening includes a Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks display after the show at 10 p.m. Guests are invited to pack a picnic to eat on the lawn. 6:30 p.m. gates; 8 p.m. show Wednesday. Tickets start at $15 presale and $20 day-of; $5 tickets for active/retired military. Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., California, cincinnatisymphony.org.

Summer Cinema Series: Independence Day — Welcome to Earth — and welcome to Washington Park for the Fourth of July screening of the 1996 sci-fi blockbuster Independence Day. After a worldwide alien attack on human civilization, a rag-tag group of people including Jeff Goldblum, Randy Quaid and Will Smith launch a counter-attack on the extraterrestrials on the Fourth of July. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to the park’s civic lawn and watch the film for free. Concessions will be open and selling beer, wine, liquor, Coca-Cola products and snacks. Or bring your own snacks; you just can’t BYOB. 9-11 p.m. Free. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, washingtonpark.org.

Stricker’s Grove Fourth of July Celebration — Stricker’s Grove is closed to the public for most of the year, save for a few special days in the summer. Today is one of those days. Spend Independence Day at this old-fashioned family-owned amusement park for games and classic rides all afternoon long. Play mini-golf and arcade games and take a ride on the Ferris wheel or the swinging pirate ship. If it’s thrills you seek, hop on to one of their two roller coasters, Teddy Bear or Tornado. Finish the night on a high note with — you guessed it — a fireworks display. 2-11 p.m. Wednesday. Free admission; $5 parking; prices for games and rides vary. Stricker’s Grove, 11490 Hamilton-Cleves Road, Hamilton, strickersgrove.com.

Northside Yacht Club Fourth of July Extravaganza — After the annual Northside Parade, head to NSYC for a Rhinegeist tap takeover, karaoke all day and an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring Jon’s famous Fourth of July burgers (with a build your own burger bar), handmade veggie burgers, Avril-Bleh brats and mets, potato salad, coleslaw, mac and cheese and more, including SPAM fried rice. 1 p.m. $18 all-you-can-eat buffet. Northside Yacht Club, 4227 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, facebook.com/northsideyachtclub.

Americana Celebration at MadTree Brewing — Americana acts Maria Carrelli, Wilder, Warsaw Falcons and The Brand play MadTree. Noon-7 p.m. Free admission. MadTree Brewing, 3301 Madison Road, Oakley, more info here.

Ault Park Independence Day Fireworks — The 53rd-annual fireworks display at Ault Park features a full day of events, including a parade, live music and fireworks starting at 10 p.m. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Free admission. Ault Park, 5090 Observatory Drive, Hyde Park, facebook.com/aultparkcincinnati.