Fireworks will begin at:
City of Delaware (10:00PM)
Village of Sunbury (10:00PM)
Orange Township (9:45PM)
In the next few days, the skies across Delaware County will be lit up with bursts of color from local Independence Day fireworks displays, including in Delaware, Sunbury and Orange Township.
City of Delaware residents will celebrate the Fourth of July with the traditional parade, free outdoor concert and firework show.
The parade, sponsored by the Delaware County Farm Bureau, steps off at 3 p.m. Wednesday from the fairgrounds’ Liberty Street gate, traveling to Sandusky Street to Wilmer Street and then Henry Street. More than 100 units, plus area marching bands are expected to participate in the “Red, White, Blue and You” themed parade.
Delaware County Historical Society President Brent Carson and Doug and Cathy Dawson and their farming family are the grand marshals of this year’s parade.
People In Need, Inc. will again conduct its shopping cart food drive during the parade. The local social service agency encourages parade attendees to bring nonperishable food items to support the drive. Staff, board members and PIN volunteers will walk the parade route with grocery carts to collect donations.
The Central Ohio Symphony’s annual outdoor concert is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and features all-American music and the always-popular “1812 Overture.” Picnic baskets, blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged.
City of Delaware (10:00PM)
At 10 p.m., the City of Delaware’s fireworks display kicks off. Prime viewing areas are Ohio Wesleyan University practice fields and areas along Henry Street. The city was able to raise $25,000 to continue its fireworks show. The city will pay the cost of public safety, emergency response and traffic control for all of the day’s activities.
The following parking restrictions and street closures will be in effect:
- 7 a.m. to midnight, no parking on Henry Street, from William Street to Olentangy Avenue
- 2:30 p.m., Henry Street, between William and Wilmer streets, will close. Parade associated pick up is permitted.
- 6 p.m., all of Henry Street, from William Street to Olentangy Avenue, Weiser Avenue, Wootring Street and Harrison Street, will close.
- 6 p.m., restricted access to and from Henry Street living units/complexes.
- The bike way bridge over U.S. 23 will be open before and after the fireworks show; the bridge will be closed during the show and will not be available as a viewing spot.
Village of Sunbury (10:00PM)
The Village of Sunbury hosts a slew of events to honor the holiday with
its Independence Day Extravaganza.
- 7 a.m to 5 p.m., Flea Market on the Square, sponsored by the Sunbury/Big Walnut Area Chamber of Commerce. $1 flea market admission charge to help pay for the community fireworks. Children under the age of 10 are admitted free.
- 9 a.m., 13th annual Memorial Volleyball Tournament, outdoors on grass courts at Big Walnut High School. In memory of Cory Lehman and Steve Morgenstern and in honor of Erin Smith.
- 9:30 a.m., Bikes and Trikes Contest, sponsored by the Sunbury/Galena Rotary Club, at the old Sparks station, opposite the southwest corner of Sunbury Square
- 10 a.m., Sunbury’s Independence Day Parade “Read, Write and Bloom,” sponsored by Vision Concept Technology and Indco Electrical Contractors.
- 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., KidZone, for children ages 10 and under, sponsored by OhioHealth. The KidZone, on the southwest quad gazebo corner of the Square, features free bounce house fun, fun frolics games with prizes, face painting and corn hole tournaments. Adults must accompany children at all times; adults must pay a $1 admission charge.
- 11 a.m., Football Skills Punt, Pass & Kick at JR Smith Park. Sign-ups will be held at the park just prior to the start of competition, and prizes will be awarded.
- 6 to 10 p.m., July Fireworks Spectacular, sponsored by Mount Carmel St. Ann’s, with four hours of live entertainment at Big Walnut High School.
- 8 p.m., Big Walnut Community Chorus, Big Walnut High School Auditorium, featuring popular patriotic favorites. The concert is free, but a freewill offering will be taken.
- 10 p.m., Fireworks
Orange Township (9:45PM)
- The Orange Township Celebration kicks off with a 9 a.m. Freedom 4Miler race, starting and ending at Little Bear Golf Club Parking Lot.
- A parade begins at 10 a.m., starting at Powell Road at the Oak Creek Center, then travels east toward Old State Road, proceeding north on Old State toward Orange Road, then east to Orange Middle School.
- The Orange Boom Over Alum fireworks shows begins with a 7:30 p.m. concert with “The Usual Suspects” at the Alum Creek State Park beach.
- The concert is followed by a boat parade at 9:15 p.m. The boats will be decorated with lights and should arrive to the Alum Creek State Park
- Marina with their decorations by 8:30 p.m. July 4.
The boat parade is led by the United State Coast Guard Auxiliary Boat from the state park marina to the Alum Creek dam. Questions about the boat parade can be directed to the Alum Creek Sailing Association Past Commander Jim Klein at 740–815-5196.
The fireworks begin at 9:45 p.m.
Parking can be found at the Alum Creek Beach, below the dam parking off Lewis Center by Bale Kenyon, and the Galena Boat Ramp.
