Cincinnati Celebrates 4th of July 2007

The Queen City will celebrate 2007's Independence Day across both sides of the river and over the hills of its different city and suburban neighborhoods. With the 4^th falling on a Wednesday this year, festivities will start as early as Friday June 29^th and the celebrating will continue for the five more days.

Neighborhood celebrations are family friendly and occurring all across Cincinnati. In Northern Kentucky meet at the Vista Hills Civic Club for their 'Fire in the Hills' celebration climaxed by a spectacular view of fireworks over the Ohio River. The rides, food, games, and entertainment, including music by Dangerous Jim and the Slims, begin at 5pm and run through midnight on Saturday June 30^th.

The Stars and Stripes Trolley Ride in Covington, Kentucky is another fun holiday activity for the family. On Saturday and Sunday June 30^th and July 1^st enjoy educational entertainment at Johnny's Toys with their food cafe, toys and crafts, and trolley rides.

Crossing the river to the Ohio side, hilly neighborhoods and riverbank views offer more places to celebrate the 4^th. Coney Island is a Cincinnati historic landmark with an amusement park dating back to the 1930's, the world's largest reflecting pool, and a picturesque riverfront setting east of the city. On Tuesday July 3^rd enjoy Coney Island's Balloon Glow with music, entertainment, and a night sky filled with glowing air balloons and fireworks. The Coney Island atmosphere and enjoying a picnic in Moonlite Gardens are free while the pool and 17 carnival rides will be open for their regular admission prices.

Near Cincinnati's downtown the quaint city neighborhood of St. Bernard will hold their free celebration on Tuesday July 3^rd starting at 6pm. Lining the streets will be food, music, and other vendor booths and the night will end with a display of famous Rozzi fireworks.

For families who enjoy watching parades, several local towns and neighborhoods are hosting large and small parades on the 4^th of July. Cincinnati's liberal Northside neighborhood will host an Independence Day parade at Noon starting on Ashtree Drive. The nearby Wyoming neighborhood parade will begin at 10am at the Wyoming Civic Center on Worthington Avenue with locals hosting block parties throughout the afternoon. Awards for the parade, as well as games, refreshments, and activities for children, will take place at the Middle School playground. Wyoming's Oak Park is the site for entertainment that evening featuring live music and fireworks.

The city of Hamilton, north of Cincinnati, celebrates with a parade starting at 2pm at the Butler County Courthouse Square. The parade is followed by a commemoration, food, music, and a day of festivities. The night will be capped off with fireworks starting at 10pm. Also in Butler County is the 4^th of July Parade and Festival starting at Lakota East High School and ending in Liberty Park in Liberty Township. The day starts early with a 5k run at 8am and the festival starts at 11am with a day full of food, rides, and games.

For music lovers, Cincinnati always attracts some well-known bands to celebrate America's Birthday for free. The Northeast suburb of Mason in Deerfield Township hosts their Red Rhythm and Boom celebration starting at 6pm on Tuesday July 3^rd. The classic rock bands Kansas and Asia will be the featured entertainment at Corwin Nixon Park. The evening full of carnival games, inflatables, food, and music will end with a 10:20pm fireworks display. Red White and Blue Ash is Blue Ash's annual celebration at the Sports Complex on Grooms Road with rides, games, music, and food. The fun starts at 2pm on the Wednesday the 4^th. The famous female led band Heart plays at 8:15pm followed by fireworks at 10pm.

Cincinnati's festivities are plentiful for the 4^th of July 2007. Families are sure to find holiday parades, carnival rides, fresh food, live music, and spectacular views of fireworks wherever and whenever they choose to celebrate.