Fremont, Port Clinton, area towns plan events for the Fourth of July

News-Messenger/News Herald
·7 min read
Spectators watch as the sky is lit in red, white and blue during the Independence Day fireworks show at Rodger Young Park in Fremont.
Spectators watch as the sky is lit in red, white and blue during the Independence Day fireworks show at Rodger Young Park in Fremont.

Area communities have a variety of ways they will be celebrating the July 4th Holiday in the coming week.

Fremont

The Fremont Parks and Recreation Department will host the Annual 4th of July Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 1. Lineup begins at 9 a.m. Deadline to register is Thursday, June 29. Email cbischoff@fremontohio.org to register.

The parade will begin at Front and State streets and travel down Tiffin Street and conclude at Rodger Young Park.

Downtown Fremont will be hosting a 4th of July Car Show from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 1. Registration for the show is free and goes on rain or shine.

There will be trophies, dash plaques and goodie bags for the first 150 registrants.

Preregistration to the Car Show is highly recommended by visiting downtownfremontohio.org/car-shows/ to register online or calling/texting 567-342-4758 by 1 p.m. Friday, June 30.

The Car Show entrance is on Front Street as you enter from State Street. Day of check-in for Car Show participants will be in Lot A (Brady Parking Lot) on Front Street in Downtown Fremont.

At 5:30 p.m., Down Thyme Café will be hosting Frankfurter Feast 2023 which is its annual Hot Dog Eating Contest where participants will compete against others in a rapid hot dog downing event. The winner receives an official 2023 Championship Belt at the intersection of Front and Garrison Street. Fill out online form at shorturl.at/fmDE3,or call 419-332-4334 to be added to the list of participants.

Fireworks are set for 10 p.m. at Walsh Park, 610 Morrison St., but they can be viewed from Rodger Young Park.

A variety of emergency vehicles proceeds down South Front Street during Fremont's annual Independence Day parade, held Saturday in Downtown Fremont. This year's parade starts at 1 p.m. on July 1.
A variety of emergency vehicles proceeds down South Front Street during Fremont's annual Independence Day parade, held Saturday in Downtown Fremont. This year's parade starts at 1 p.m. on July 1.

Clyde

The City of Clyde will celebrate America's Independence Day on Sunday, July 2, in Community Park. Events begin at 5:30 p.m. and continue through dusk when fireworks will be set off over the Raccoon Creek Reservoir on South Main Street.

The recreation department will have five inflatables set up in the park, plus a photo booth, and hold several children's games on the south ball diamond. Relay for Life team Flashy Taters will have a food booth and the park concession stand also will be open.

The City of Clyde will also have a heavy equipment display for youths and residents to check out between 6 and 8 p.m. There will be a fire truck, EMS unit, and street department backhoe. Clyde Police K-9 Chase and Officer Tony Travagliante also will be at the park.

The city recreation department, which has been hosting Kids Camp, will have an art show of youths' works in the enclosed shelter house as well.

Green Springs

The village will be celebrating Independence Day on Saturday, July 1. The annual parade will kick off at noon with lineup at 11:30 a.m. The celebration is hosted by the Green Springs Fire Department at 120 Catherine St.

Starting at noon there will be a countyline tug-of-war, food trucks, a beer tent and DJ Lee until 8 p.m. From 1 to 3 p.m. there will be a petting zoo, 1 to 4 p.m. a car show, and from 1 to 7 p.m. bounce houses.

A cornhole tournament begins at 1:30 p.m. and a Kiddy Tractor Pull starts at 3 p.m. with registration at 2:30 p.m.

There will be a dunk tank between 5 and 8 p.m. and a live band at 8 p.m.

Fireworks are planned for dusk.

Oak Harbor

The Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce Independence Day Celebration will be Monday, July 3, on Mill Street Riverfront. Events begin at 5 p.m. with Journey's Giant Inflatables, the chamber pop and beer tent, and other food concessions.

Class A. Dance has a performance at 5:50 p.m. followed by Harbor Lites at 6:30 p.m. DJ Tony will have music from 7 to 10 p.m. and the Royalty Duck Race will be at 8 p.m.

The celebration wraps up at dusk (10 p.m.) with fireworks.

Port Clinton

The Red, White and Vroom, Port Clinton Area 4th of July Celebration, kicks off at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 4, with the Star Spangled Squirt Gun Run/Walk. Registration begins at 8 a.m. at the Jefferson Street Pavilion. Race day registration is $30.

The Firecracker Cutie Contest begins at noon at the Trinity United Methodist Church, at Second and Adams streets. Categories include Jr. Miss, Miss, Mister and Most Photogenic. Registration opens at 11 a.m. Applications are available at the chamber, Coffee Express, Ida Rupp Public Library and on Facebook. For details call 419-341-8177.

Food trucks will be open 2 to 6 p.m. in the Trinity United Methodist Church parking lot.

The Croghan Colonial Classic Car, Truck and Cycle Show will be 2 to 6 p.m. in the 100 and 200 block of Adams Street. A $5 donation per vehicle is requested.

An ice cream social will be 2 to 7 p.m. inside Trinity United Methodist Church.

At 7 p.m. the Voices of Freedom Community Choir Concert will be also held at Trinity UMC.

A family dance party will be 8 to 10 at Waterworks Park, then the United Way of Ottawa County will host the Incredible Rubber Duck Race at 8;30 p.m. at the derby pond in the park. Purchase a duck by calling 419-734-6645.

Fireworks wrap up the day at 10 p.m. at Waterworks Park and the City Beach.

Put-in-Bay

Put-in-Bay island businesses and residents work together to sponsor one of the best fireworks displays on Lake Erie. Always held on July 4th by tradition, the fireworks display is ignited from a barge placed in the middle of the Put-in-Bay Harbor. The Put-in-Bay July 4th Fireworks were named one of the Top Ten Places In Ohio To Watch Fireworks, according to an island website.

Parking will be offered at the Peace Garden Lot at the corner of Park Avenue. The show is best viewed from the seawall or from the lawn of Perry’s Victory and Peace Memorial.

Woodville

The Woodville Independence Day Celebration will officially start at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 29, with the opening of the midway, rides, and the annual car show in the orchard at 5 p.m. Heidi's Twirlers will perform on the tennis court at 6 p.m. Front stage entertainment will feature a dance party with "A and J Sound Mobile DJ Service" beginning at 7 p.m. and various local musicians will take the stage in the beer tent at 7:30 p.m.

The midway will open again at 5 p.m. Friday, June 30. The Kids One Mile Fun Run will begin at 7:04 p.m., and the 5K race will start at 7:30 p.m. "Kindred Soul" will perform on the front stage at 6 p.m. and "Mood Lifters”' will be on stage in the beer tent at 7:30 p.m.

The Grand Parade will step off at noon Saturday, July 1. Due to weight restrictions posted recently at the Cherry Street bridge, the parade will not line up on Lueke Ave and adjacent streets and will not cross the bridge this year. Instead, the parade will line up in the Woodville Pool parking lot and will begin at the corner of Perry Street and College Avenue, head west on College, turn at Pemberville Road, and then head back to Trail Marker Park via Erie Street.

The midway will open at noon Saturday and there will be a performance by Glittering Stars Dance Company on the front stage at 1 p.m. The Woodville/Woodmore High School Alumni Reunion will begin at 2 p.m. in the beer tent

Fireworks, the highlight of the celebration, will begin at approximately 10 p.m. Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Fremont, Port Clinton plan Fourth of July events