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July 4 holiday starts with weekend events

6/28/2012 - West Side Leader
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By Kathleen Folkerth

GREATER AKRON — Ribs will be cookin’ and fireworks will be poppin’ throughout the area as residents gather to celebrate Independence Day.

Even though July 4 is a Wednesday, festivities will begin as soon as this weekend to usher in the celebrations, with annual events scheduled in Fairlawn and the Portage Lakes area.

Here’s a rundown of activities taking place in the Akron area in the coming week:

Akron

An overview of activities at Lock 3 during the 2011 Rib, White and Blue Festival is shown above. This year’s event will take place July 2-4 on South Main Street and Lock 3 in Downtown Akron.
Photo: Krista Galloway
The Rib, White and Blue Festival returns to South Main Street in Downtown Akron July 2-4. This year, eight barbecue vendors from Ohio, South Carolina, Texas and Tennessee will be manning their grills near Lock 3 Park for a chance at cash prizes and bragging rights. Other vendors will have summer food favorites like roasted corn and funnel cakes. The festival will be open each day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Admission and parking are free.

All three days, children can enjoy the chance to bounce in inflatables and ride on the Magic Train. Tickets will be available at the festival for those activities.

Entertainment at Lock 3 Park will be Beatles-themed acts The Get Back Band and 1964 The Tribute on July 2, and Zach and the Bright Lights and Eagles tribute act Hotel California July 3. Music starts those nights at 7 p.m. On July 4, the Brass Band of the Western Reserve will play at 5 p.m., followed by the Akron Symphony Orchestra and its Pops concert at 8 p.m. That performance will feature trumpet soloist Byron Stripling, of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, who played the lead in the musical “Satchmo.”

Akron’s annual fireworks follow July 4 at 9:45 p.m. at Lock 3. City officials cautioned that South Main Street will be closed to traffic that night between Exchange and Market for the fireworks show. Traffic should enter downtown via state Route 59, Dart Avenue or Bowery and Mill streets.

Also, July 3, the Akron Aeros will host the Richmond Flying Squirrels at Canal Park, 300 S. Main St. The 7:05 p.m. game will be followed by a holiday fireworks show. For tickets or more information, go to www.akronaeros.com or call 330-253-5153.

In addition, due to the popularity of the Gravity and Grace: Monumental Works by El Anatsui exhibit, the Akron Art Museum will be open July 4. Visitors to Downtown Akron can visit the museum from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free for students 17 years and younger and for members, $7 for adults and $5 for older students and seniors 65 and older.

West Akron

Castle Park will host its annual Independence Day Parade July 4 at 10:30 a.m. Registration will begin at 10 a.m. at a cost of $1. The parade will start at the intersection of Dartmouth Avenue and Castle Boulevard. Certificates and prizes will be awarded for the most patriotically creative in the categories of bikes and trikes, wagons and strollers, walkers and rollerbladers and best dressed pet. All Boy and Girl Scouts and veterans also are invited to march. Spectators are welcome to line the sidewalk on Castle between Dartmouth and Garman to watch the parade.

Cleveland

The Public Square: Star-Spangled Spectacular with the Cleveland Orchestra will take place July 2 at 9 p.m. in Downtown Cleveland. The orchestra, led by Jahja Ling, will celebrate the nation’s founding with a free concert event at Public Square, ending with Tchaikovsky’s “1812” Overture and fireworks.

Also, Progressive Field, 2401 Ontario St., will feature fireworks following the July 3 Cleveland Indians game. The Indians will take on the California Angels at 7:05 p.m. For details, go to www.cleveland.indians.mlb.com.

In addition, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way, invites visitors to have a “Red, White & Zoo” holiday July 4 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the zoo will feature holiday-themed animal enrichment demonstrations. Throughout the day, animal keepers will prepare red, white and blue treats for some of the zoo’s animals, including primates, polar bears, seals and sea lions. Admission is $12.25, or $8.25 for ages 2-11 and free for children younger than 2 and zoo members. Parking is free. For details, visit www.clemetzoo.com or call 216-661-6500.

Cuyahoga Falls

At Blossom Music Center, 1145 Steels Corners Road, the Cleveland Orchestra begins its season of outdoor concerts with Independence Day events. The Cleveland Orchestra concert July 3, titled “America the Beautiful,” will be conducted by Jahja Ling with a performance of popular favorites, including Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” with pianist Inon Barnatan and ending with Tchaikovsky’s “1812” Overture.

The Blossom Festival Band will perform July 4 in a “Salute to America” program led by conductor Loras John Schissel with patriotic holiday favorites, including a salute to the U.S. Armed Forces, Sousa marches and Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.” Each performance will be followed by fireworks, weather permitting.

This year, the orchestra once again is offering free tickets for concertgoers younger than 18. Tickets may be picked up at the Blossom Box Office or obtained through the website at www.clevelandorchestra.com. There is a limit of two children’s tickets per adult ticket purchased. For details, call 216-231-1111 or 800-686-1141.

Fairlawn

last year’s city of Fairlawn’s Fourth of July celebration are Oliver Stroup, Chandler Kline, Makenna Garra, Brianna Gilmor, Leighton Kline and Elliot Stroup. All are cousins, some of whom were visiting family members in Fairlawn.
Photo: Krista Galloway
The Fairlawn Community Foundation and the city of Fairlawn are hosting this year’s Fourth of July celebration July 1 at Bicentennial Park, located on South Smith Road. The annual free outdoor concert will feature a two-hour performance by the Brass Band of the Western Reserve beginning at 8 p.m., followed by fireworks beginning around 10 p.m.

The Peterman Bus Co. will provide free shuttles to and from Summit Mall to Bicentennial Park to ease parking and traffic congestion. The shuttle may be picked up beginning at 7 p.m. in the east parking lot of Dillard’s. The Fairlawn City Women’s Club and Boy Scout Troop No. 380 will sell refreshments during the event.

The holiday activities will continue with the city’s Fourth of July Parade stepping off at 6:30 p.m. July 4 in front of Fairlawn Town Centre. The parade route heads west on West Market Street to Ghent Road and ends in the Dillard’s parking lot at Summit Mall, where trophies will be handed out to organizers of floats, marching units, bands and novelty units.

Donations to support the costs of the events are being accepted at the Fairlawn Community Foundation, P.O. Box 5304, Fairlawn, OH 44334. For more information, call 330-668-9503.

Portage Lakes

The 28th annual Portage Lakes fireworks display will take place July 1. Fireworks will be shot from Mason’s Point on Turkeyfoot Lake at 10 p.m. Part of last year’s display is shown above.
The 37th annual Boat Parade is scheduled for July 1 at 1 p.m., forming at Kieffer Marine on East Reservoir and ending at Portage Lakes State Park Beach. Shown above is last year’s first-place winner, Yellow Submarine, created by the Vesco family.
Photo: Lew Stamp
On June 30, the Light up the Lakes event, organized by the Portage Lakes Fireworks Association, will feature an evening parade of lighted boats. Cash prizes will be awarded to the best entries. The parade will begin at Howie’s in Turkeyfoot Lake at 10 p.m. and conclude at Dietz’s Landing. Registration for boaters is required at www.portagelakes.com. Call 330-703-2732 for more information.

During the weekend, activities will continue with the 37th annual Boat Parade, which will take place July 1 at 1 p.m., forming at Kieffer’s Marine on East Reservoir. The parade will end at Portage Lakes State Park Beach. Cash prizes will be awarded to the best-decorated boats. Following the parade, a sand castle building contest will take place on the beach from 2 to 4 p.m., with cash prizes awarded to the best creations.

The 28th annual Portage Lakes fireworks display will take place July 1. Fireworks will be shot from Mason’s Point on Turkeyfoot Lake at 10 p.m. WKDD will simulcast music to the event. The rain date is July 3. According to organizers, the Portage Lakes fireworks are the largest privately funded fireworks in the state. Donations can be sent to P.O. Box 26923, Akron, OH 44319, or brought to the PNC Bank branch on Manchester Road or the National City Bank on Arlington Road in Green. Donations also can be dropped off at George Ayers Insurance, Dano’s Lakeside Pub, Dusty’s Landing, Dietz’s Restaurant or Cole Industries.

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