Portage County communities will join the July 4 celebration of America’s 250th birthday with parades, festivals, concerts, picnics and, of course, fireworks.
Events listed here are scheduled for July 4, unless otherwise noted. Send information about any events we missed to jsaunders@recordpub.com.
Aurora
The city will celebrate Independence Day with events all day:
Remaining events will be at Kiwanis-Moore Park, 35 W. Pioneer Trail:
Hiram
The village plans events over two days.
A community gathering is planned at 7 p.m. July 3 at Hiram College Athletic Facility, featuring live music, food vendors and Swifty the Clown. Mayoral remarks, the National Anthem and fireworks will begin at dusk.
Plans for July 4, include:
9 a.m. − Community softball game at Village Park, 1617 Garfield Road.
10:30 a.m. − Cookout, bike decorating and bike rodeo with Hiram Police Department at Hiram Christian Church, 6868 Wakefield Road.
Noon − Grand Parade, including make-a-float, dress up or simply join in. Line up at the Post Office at State Route 82 and Hayden Street.
4 p.m. − Community Band concert near Fohring Music Hall on Dean Street.
5:30 p.m. − Pie contest dropoff at Gerstacker arch. Prizes for youth and adult divisions. No freezer pies. Kids games and community potluck.
7 p.m. − Pie contest winners announced, ice cream social with big band performance and dancing at Oliver Plaza.
Kent
Kent Area Chamber of Commerce’s Kent Heritage Festival will run 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 3 at 100 Franklin Ave. in downtown Kent.
The free festival will have vendors, food trucks, live music, fun for the kids and fireworks.
Special events will include:
The Kent Heritage Festival Classic Car Show will be on North Water Street on July 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Go to www.kentbiz.com/events/eventcalendar for participation information.
Ravenna
America’s 250th Anniversary Community Picnic will run 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 11 outside Ravenna Court House, 203 W. Main St.
The event will include an opening ceremony (speeches, taps), community photo, food giveaways (hotdogs, snow cones, popcorn, cotton candy, cake), patriotic souvenirs (while supplies last), DJ Krooze, Bill Starcher Art, DORA drinks, chalk drawing, face painting, petting zoo, bounce houses, dunk tank, a magician, veteran information, Uncle Sam look-alike for photos, time capsule, business specials, Ravenna Police Department K-9 demonstration, Ravenna Fire Department community outreach and community organization vendor tables.
There will be a tent with tables and chairs on the courthouse lawn. Bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets to set up in the pocket park, Ravenna Township Park or along Main Street.
Parking for the event will be available at multiple Portage County parking lots south of Main Street, along with various street parking.
To continue the celebration there will be an after party concert at Sunbeau Valley Event Center, 3248 Brady Lake Road, featuring “DEK of Hearts,” which was seen on Season 28 of “The Voice.”
The concert will run 7 to 9 p.m., with gates opening at 5:45 p.m. Food vendors will be on site. Tickets are $15 and available at tinyurl.com/3ec6jrrt.
Rootstown Township
Let Freedom Ride 2026, organized by the Rootstown Historical Society and Rootstown Lions Club, will be at Rootstown Community Park, 4104 Case Ave.
The event will include a car show, starting at 9 a.m. Registration is encouraged by emailing RootstownHistoricalSociety@gmail.com. Entry is free, with awards given, including a $250 first prize. Dash plaques given to the first 25 entries.
Also available will be food and cold drinks, bounce houses, crafters and art, DJ with music, and activities for kids.
Schedule includes:
Streetsboro
Woodside Lake Park, 2486 Frost Road, will have events during Fourth of July weekend.
Byers Concessions will be available all weekend.
On July 4, make your own tie-dye T-shirts ($6 per shirt) in the upper pavilion at 2 p.m. Penny carnival will be 2 to 5 p.m. in the upper shelter, including crafts and games. C&T concert will be in front of the bath house starting at 7 p.m.
Fireworks will be at dusk July 5. DJ Carl will provide patriotic tunes. For more information, including costs, call the Woodside Lake Park office at 330-626-4251.
Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Portage communities to celebrate America’s 250th
Reporting by Jeff Saunders, Ravenna Record-Courier / Record-Courier
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jeff Saunders, Ravenna Record-Courier | USA TODAY Network
