MANSFIELD, Ohio – A shortage doesn’t exist when it comes to fun festivities during Fourth of July weekend. The area is hosting numerous Independence Day celebrations that locals can enjoy.
Charles Mill Lake Park is holding the Red, White and Blue Fest on Thursday, July 2 – Saturday, July 4. Various activities will be held at the Messerly Activity Center Thursday evening. The following day, there will be a swimming contest for kids, carnival and glow party. The festivities will finish on Saturday with crafts for adults and kids, a corn hole tournament, live entertainment and fireworks that will launch at dusk. For more information, call 419-368-6885.
“High flying fun for the whole family” will be available in Ashland at Freer Field during the annual Balloonfest, which begins Thursday, July 2 at 4 p.m. and wraps up Sunday, July 5. Attendees can enjoy the sight of colorful hot air balloons filling the sky. There will be live entertainment along with many activities and contests. All ballooning events are weather permitting and subject to delays or cancellation.
For more fun in the skies, visit the Mansfield Airport Day. There will be military and civilian aircraft displays, a car, truck and cycle show, exhibits, airplane rides and more. The event begins on Saturday, July 4 at 8 a.m. at the Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport.
Festivities in Ontario kick off Friday, July 3 with Ontario Growth Association (OGA) Night. Activities, which will be held on the Ontario Middle School campus and Marshall Park beginning at 6 p.m., include a corn hole tournament, volleyball tournament, tug-of-war and the Mike Martin Memorial Car Show. The following morning, the Ontario Liberty 5K steps off at 8 a.m. in front of the Ontario High School, and at noon, the Ontario Fourth of July Festival officially opens on the Ontario Middle School/High School campus. Families can enjoy several different games like the frog jumping contest, egg run/egg toss and various eating contests. The festival parade begins at 4:15 p.m. on Milligan Road, and the night ends with a fireworks display starting at 10:05 p.m.
Pleasant Hill Lake Park will present the 4th Rock ‘n Roll event on July 4 and 5. STEADYFIRE, an alternative rock band from Perrysville, will perform Saturday at 5:30 p.m., and the Shizzle Dizzle Magic Show and balloon twisting will be featured on Sunday at 11 a.m. For more information, call 419-938-7884.
Fireworks will light up the night sky in Loudonville on July 4. The 30-minute display will occur in Riverside Park at dusk.
For fun on the farm, check out the Liberty Barn Dance on July 4 from 7-10 p.m. at Malabar Farm. There will be square and line dancing with live music. Beginners are welcome. There’s a $1 admission fee for ages 12 and older. For more information, call 419-892-2784.
Bellville will celebrate the Fourth of July with the Liberty Day Festival on July 4. The festival will begin with a parade, stepping off at the American Legion at 11 a.m., marching south on Main Street to Stoodt’s Super Value, turning west and then north on Bell Street, east on Church Street to Bellville’s Bandstand. A special “American Flag Folding Ceremony” will be part of the program following the parade at the Bellville Bandstand by the American Legion Post 535 Women’s Auxiliary.
Galion’s Pickle Run will be held July 4 and 5, kicking off Saturday morning with the YMCA’s 5K run/walk and kids’ fun run at 8:30 a.m. Also on Saturday there will be games and activities, and a family movie will be shown at 9:30 p.m. behind the YMCA. Pickle Run festivities will continue on Sunday with the Galion Senior Center’s car and cycle show from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. There will also be a disc golf tournament at Amick Reservoir from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and a volleyball tournament in Heise Park beginning at 1 p.m. At 2 p.m., a parade will travel from the former Galion High School property on Church Street, to Gill Avenue and through Heise Park. From 4-8 p.m. on Sunday, the park will have all sorts of activities leading up to Galion’s annual fireworks show at dusk.
The Crestline Lions Club will present the annual Independence Day fireworks show in the former Hutson Stadium on Friday, July 3, with a July 5 rain date. A teen dance at Hamilton Park will follow the show.
Finally, Shelby Bicycle Days will be held Thursday, July 9 – Saturday, July 11. At 4 p.m. on Thursday, the midway and Mechanics Bank Ride Zone open. There will be a bike safety show at 6:30 p.m. and a kids’ safety spot and activity zone at 7 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, the midway opens at noon and there are plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy. The Whippet 1 Mile and 5K Run will be held Saturday morning and the parade starts later that day at 2 p.m. The Donley Ford Pre-Fireworks Show begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, followed by the fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.
