Every July 4, America celebrates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence and separation of the 13 original colonies from British rule with Independence Day parades, pyrotechnics and other parties. If you’re looking to get your Fourth of July fix — and see some colorful explosions in the sky — here are some suggestions taking place throughout the weekend and on July 4 itself.

Taste on the Levee When: June 9 from 4-7 p.m. Where: Newport on the Levee, Newport What: Experience the local flavors of Newport. Who: Newport on the Levee Why: Enjoy a delicious evening of food and drinks from Newport’s local restaurants and bars, along with live music and entertainment. Photo: Provided by Newport on the Levee
Red, Rhythm & Boom July 3 from 4-10 p.m. Red, Rhythm & Boom is an outdoor Fourth of July celebration featuring fun for the whole family. The event includes slides and bounce houses, putt-putt, carnival games, local food vendors and more. Bands Sister Hazel and Spin Doctors will provide live music beginning at 6 p.m. The evening will conclude with the Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks and Drone Show. July 3 from 4-10 p.m. Mason Municipal Campus, Mason, imaginemason.org. Photo: Pexels
Red, White & KaBOOM! July 3 from 4-10 p.m. Enjoy an evening of Independence Day fun featuring the Fairfield Farmers Market, food trucks, live music and performances by the Cincinnati Circus. July 3 from 4-7 p.m. Village Green Park, Fairfield; July 3 from 7-10 p.m. Harbin Park, Fairfield, fairfield-city.org. Photo: Provided by Fairfield
Photo: greentwp.org
Green Township Independence Day Fireworks and Concert  July 3 at 5:30 p.m. Enjoy an Independence Day filled with live music, fireworks, food and craft beer in the beautiful Kuliga Park. Live music will be performed by Cincinnati band Saffire Express at 7 p.m. July 3 at 5:30 p.m. Kuliga Park, Green Township, greentwp.org. Photo: greentwp.org
Madeira Independence Day Parade and Celebration July 3 from 6-10 p.m.  Experience Madeira’s patriotic tradition with family, friends and neighbors. After the parade, head to McDonald Commons Park to continue the celebration with live music, food and fireworks. July 3 from 6-10 p.m. McDonald Commons Park, Madeira, madeiracity.com. Photo: Mike Enerio, Unsplash
Colerain Township 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular 7 p.m. July 3 Colerain Township’s Fourth of July celebration is back this year, with food and beverages, family-friendly activities, music, and, of course, fireworks. The event includes free admission, free parking and free shuttle service. Live music starts at 7 p.m. and fireworks start at 10 p.m. 7 p.m. July 3. 4200 Springdale Road, facebook.com/events. Photo: Elisha Terada, Unsplash
Sparks in the Park July 3 from 7-10 p.m. Enjoy live music beginning at 7 p.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m. Cold water and soda will be provided by The Milford Community Fire Department and The American Legion will offer adult beverages in special event DORA cups. Food will be provided by the Masonic Lodge and other vendors. July 3 from 7-10 p.m. Riverside Ballfield, Milford, milfordohio.org. Photo: Alex Jones, Unsplash
Edgewood 4th of July Events July 4 from 7:30 a.m.-9:45 p.m. Start off the day by cheering on the runners in the 46th Annual Edgewood Independence Day 5K Race at Presidents Park. The race includes divisions for runners, walkers and even a children’s fun run. After the race, enjoy the 62nd annual neighborhood parade beginning at the Caywood Elementary and Turkeyfoot Middle School campus. Following the parade, there will be free live music and fireworks in Freedom Park, complete with food and drink vendors. July 4 from 7:30 a.m.-9:45 p.m. Freedom Park, Edgewood, edgewoodky.gov. Photo: Vincent Grg, Unsplash
Fort Thomas 4th of July Celebration 7 a.m.-10:30 p.m. July 4 What’s going down at the Fort? Loads of fun, from the YMCA Firecracker 5k at 7 a.m., to a parade at 10:30 a.m. and a kids zone, food trucks and a concert. And let’s not forget the star of the show — the fireworks at 10 p.m. at Tower Park. 7 a.m.-10:30 p.m. July 4. Tower Park, 900 S. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas, visitcincy.com. Photo: Weston M, Unsplash
Wyoming 4th of July Celebration July 4 from 9 a.m.-9:45 p.m. Enjoy a parade with neighbors and family celebrating both Independence Day and Wyoming’s 150th anniversary. Following the parade will be free swimming for all residents at Wyoming Family Aquatic Center. Head to Oak Park in the evening for bounce houses, obstacle courses, games, food and live music performed by The Shifferly Road Band followed by a fireworks show. July 4 from 9 a.m.-9:45 p.m. Wyoming, wyomingohio.gov. Photo: Flickr/Kevin
Sayler Park Fourth of July Bike Parade July 4 from 10-11 a.m. This fun and creative event is open to kids, teenagers and adults. Parade participants will meet up at the Cincinnati Recreation Center to decorate bikes followed by a paradefrom the rec center to Sayler Park. Light refreshments will be provided after the parade and prizes for the best decorated bikes will be handed out. July 4 from 10-11 a.m. Sayler Park, cincinnati-oh.gov. Photo: Flickr/risingthermals
City of Montgomery Independence Day Parade and Festival July 4 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Celebrate Independence Day with a neighborhood parade along Cooper and Montgomery Road in Montgomery, followed by an outdoor Fourth of July festival at Montgomery Park. July 4 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Montgomery, montgomeryohio.gov. Photo: Facebook event page
Stricker’s Grove 4th of July Celebration July 4 from 2-11 p.m. This is one of the few days that this privately-owned amusement park is open to the public, so be sure to take advantage of the rare occasion during the park’s annual Fourth of July celebration. This day of entertainment and fun includes amusement park rides, food and drink and fireworks.  July 4 from 2-11 p.m. Stricker’s Grove, Ross, facebook.com. Photo: facebook.com/strickersgrove
Watch a parade or find some fireworks Two of the most colorful annual parades take place during summer in Cincinnati. After being limited for two years due to COVID, the Cincinnati Pride parade and main celebration takes place on June 25, with floats, dance troupes, drag queens and LGBTQIA+ supporters of all stripes proceeding through downtown and into Sawyer Point. Fest headliners this year are singer/songwriter and transgender rights activist Shea Diamond, pop singer Jordy, Glee’s Alex Newell and Grammy-winner Daya. After a canceled event in 2020 and a house float tour in 2021, the eccentric Northside Fourth of July Parade will be back in full swing this year. Thousands line the streets to see creative handmade floats from vintage stores, bars and community organizations; local marching bands; drill teams; every local 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 event is the centerpiece of a weekend of events down at the Northside Rock N’ Roll Carnival. Blue Ash is bringing live music back to its big Fourth of July party. This year’s Red, White & Blue Ash will be headlined by Pop artist Gavin DeGraw, and Cincinnati’s own Blessid Union of Souls will open the show. The day will also be full of rides, wandering entertainment and food and drink vendors, with an Arthur Rozzi Pyrotechnics fireworks show to close out the night. While details are still being determined for Riverfest , it is the best way to say goodbye to summer in Cincinnati. Launched more than four decades ago to celebrate the 10th anniversary of radio station WEBN, the Labor Day weekend bash features food, music, major traffic jams and one of the largest firework displays in the Midwest. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Taps, Tastes and Tunes Festival June 21-23. Free admission. 9448A Waterfront Drive, West Chester. Miller Lite’s second-annual weekend-long event is all about the senses. The smells and tastes of restaurants like BRAVO! and Fricker’s are complemented by the sounds of a “booming live music scene.” Photo via Facebook.com/TapsTasteandTunes Photo: Facebook.com/TapsTasteandTunes
Loveland Independence Day Celebration July 4 from 4-11 p.m. This family-oriented event includes many activities such as games, food trucks, bingo, kids’ bike decorating contests, a pie-eating competition, live music, a parade and fireworks. A giant Connect Four will be provided by the Mathnasium of Loveland and the Loveland High School Robotics Team will be doing demonstrations — all before a fireworks show in downtown Loveland at 10 p.m. July 4 from 4-11 p.m. Loveland, lovinlifeloveland.com. Photo: Flickr/Brendan Bombaci
Madtree Brewing Co. Oakley Taproom 3301 Madison Rd., Oakley MadTree’s massive 10,000-square-foot beer garden is a fun family hangout. With over 30 MadTree-exclusive taps, ambient lighting and an industrial brick façade leftover from the building’s factory days, there’s more than enough space to accommodate all the beer-drinking, cornhole-playing, dog-loving humans that hang at MadTree on the regular. Photo: Phil Heiden Reich
Red, White & BOOM July 4 at 8 p.m. Cincinnati Pops and conductor John Russell Morris come together for the annual Fourth of July concert Red, White & BOOM. Enjoy patriotic music at Riverbend Music Center followed by a post-concert fireworks show. July 4 at 8 p.m. Riverbend Music Center, California, cincinnatisymphony.org. Photo: Flickr/Roberta
King’s Island 4th of July Celebration July 4 from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Bring your family and friends to this fun-filled Fourth of July celebration at Kings Island. Enjoy a pre-fireworks dinner, spend the day riding rollercoasters and then look to the sky for the Kings Island fireworks show.  10 a.m.-10 p.m.July 4. Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Dr., Mason, visitkingsisland.com. Photo: Facebook.com/KingsIslandFireworks