Harford County is ready to celebrate America's birthday with a variety of July 4th celebrations, some on July 3 and even one this weekend.
This year's earliest local celebration is Darlington's 33rd annual Independence Day event on Saturday, June 25.
The festivities were rained out last year, and the follow-up fireworks, held after the rain, drew a small crowd, Larry Burton, of the Darlington Lions Independence Day Committee, explained.
This year's fireworks display, which is sponsored by BGE and Exelon, will be bigger than those people may remember from previous years, he said.
There's also been a small but significant change in the parade route.
The parade, which begins at 5:30 p.m., will start about 100 yards farther south then before, at the Darlington Volunteer Fire Company on Castleton Road.
The shift will allow organizers to avoid closing Route 1, which drew complaints from "several irate motorists" two years ago, Burton said.
Starting the parade south of Route 1 "should be a plus, as far as not inconveniencing folks that are transient during that time," he said.
The parade will proceed down Main Street before turning onto Shuresville Road and ending at Francis Silver Park.
Entertainment and food will be available at Francis Silver Park, with the fireworks starting at dusk.
People and organizations interested in registering for the parade can call Jerry Scarborough at 410-836-3506.
With sunny weather forecast for this weekend, Burton said he is hoping residents will be eager to return after "they missed out on it last year."
The parade will not be rescheduled if it is rained out, however, the fireworks will be shot off Sunday if they can't go Saturday night.
The parade's expected 70 to 80 participants will include two high school marching bands instead of just one, as The John Carroll School joins regular participant Havre de Grace High School, Burton said.
4th on the 3rd
The Edgewood/Joppatowne Independence Day Parade will take place in Joppatowne this year, set to march down Joppa Farm Road starting at 6 p.m. July 3, according to the Edgewood/Joppatowne Independence Day Committee's website.
The parade will run from Shore Drive to Hinton Road, and participants should contact Sue Heselton, 410-679-1991 or www.edgewoodjoppatonweparade.org.
The ninth annual parade will be followed by a free concert at Mariner Point Park at 8 p.m.
The theme of the parade this year is "Celebrating Our Heroes."
Havre de Grace also will hold its Independence Day festivities on Sunday, July 3.
The city's traditional parade will roll down Union Avenue starting at 2 p.m. and will feature 22 musical units, according to the Havre de Grace Independence Day Committee.
The annual carnival returns to Tydings Park from June 29 to July 2. It will be open from 6 to 10 p.m. from June 29 through July 1 and from 1 to 4 p.m. on July 2 for Super Saturday Family Day. The carnival also will be open from 3 to 9:45 p.m. Sunday, between the parade and fireworks.
Coupons for $4 off the carnival on Wednesday and Thursday are available at various Havre de Grace locations, including Frank's Pizza, Joseph's Department Store, the Activity Center and the Visitor Center.
After the parade, Jeff Thompson will provide music in the Yacht Basin at Tydings Park starting at 7:30 p.m., followed by a fireworks show sponsored partly by BGE.
Fireworks will start at 9:30 p.m., with a rain date set for Monday, July 4. Last year, the city's fireworks had to be postponed until August because of wet conditions at the launch site which fire officials determined to be unsafe.
Independence Day in Kingsville, Bel Air
Kingsville and Bel Air are both holding parades and celebrations on July 4.
The Greater Kingsville Civic Association and the Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company are sponsoring the 36th annual Kingsville Independence Day Parade, which will start at 10:50 a.m. from the fire company on Bellvue Avenue and proceed down Bradshaw Road to finish at St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
Before the parade, an hour of entertainment will begin at 10 a.m. at the corner of Bradshaw and Jerusalem roads.
The parade will include judges' awards for best interpretation of theme, best parade entry, best appearing company and the Bud Huson American Pride award for best band or musical entry.
Harford County's most prominent celebration, the Bel Air Independence Day event, will run most of the day July 4 in downtown Bel Air.
The most prominent changes will be the elimination of the frog jumping and turtle derby and new sponsorship for the pancake and sausage breakfast, which will be run by the Bel Air High School Athletic Boosters this year instead of the Bel Air Lions Club.
A flag-raising ceremony will start at 6:45 a.m. in front of Bel Air High School; others will also take place at individual event locations.
The pancake breakfast, which costs $7 for adults and $4 for children under 10, will be held from 7 to 11 a.m. at the high school.
Horseshoe pitching will start at 8:30 a.m. at Rockfield Park, patriotic music and tours at Hays House at 9 a.m., face painting from 9 a.m. to noon at Shamrock Park and various contests from 9 a.m. to noon at the park.
A water balloon toss starts at 9 a.m., a costume contest starts at 10 a.m., Uncle Sam Says is at 11 a.m. and a watermelon-eating contest is at 11:30 a.m. The bicycle rodeo is at 11 a.m. at the Bel Air Elementary School parking lot.
Bel Air's parade starts at 6 p.m. from the Idlewild and South Main Street intersection toward East Gordon Street. Fireworks will then be launched from Rockfield Park at about 9:30 p.m.
For more information, visit BelAirJuly4.org.