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In the spirit of public service on America’s birthday, we list the area’s friendly government-approved celebrations scheduled for Wednesday night — with the understanding there will be other, non-approved fireworks (please be careful kids; moms and dads, you too).
The big skyrockets-in-flight show at the Inner Harbor is scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. But official Independence Day festivities start earlier, at 4 p.m., with the band Mason Vixon performing original county songs at the Inner Harbor Amphitheater, at Pratt and Light streets.
The Inner Harbor show, produced by the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts, will be choreographed to Top 40, classic, and patriotic music that can be heard at the Inner Harbor Amphitheater, West Shore Park, and the surrounding promenade, according to BOPA’s website. Prime viewing spots, in addition to the Inner Harbor, include Federal Hill, Fell’s Point, and Harbor East.
In Baltimore County (the county’s website notes that use of backyard fireworks remains illegal), sanctioned fireworks celebrations are scheduled for the following locations:
- Catonsville High School, 421 Bloomsbury Avenue, Catonsville, 21228 (rain date: July 7)
- Fullerton Park, 4304 Fullerton Avenue, Baltimore, 21236 (rain date: July 5)
- Grange Elementary School, 2000 Church Road, Dundalk, 21222 (rain date: July 6)
- Greenspring Valley Hunt Club, 30 Greenspring Valley Road, 21117 (rain date: July 5)
- Loch Raven Tech Academy, 8101 LaSalle Road, Baltimore, 21286 (rain date: July 5)
- Oregon Ridge Park, 13401 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville, 21030 (rain date: July 5)
In Howard County, those wishing to reserve a spot on the Columbia Lakefront may do so beginning at 3 p.m. Fireworks are set to launch at dusk, with a July 5 rain date. According to Howard County’s website, tarps found on the ground Wednesday prior to 3 p.m. will be confiscated. (Yikes!)
The Annapolis Independence Day celebration starts at 6:30 p.m. downtown with the Annapolis Harbor parade beginning on West Street, around Church Circle, and then heading down Main Street to the City Dock. The U.S. Naval Academy's Concert Band will perform at City Dock just prior to the fireworks, scheduled for 9:15 p.m.
In Carroll County, holiday festivities start at 3 p.m. at the Carroll County Farm Museum in Westminster, with onstage entertainment, children's games, food and crafts for sale. At 5 p.m. a $5 per car parking fee will be collected to offset the cost of the fireworks, scheduled for a 9:30 p.m. launch.
Bel Air, in Harford County, will host its fireworks display at Rockville Park on Churchville Road, with the show set to begin at 9:30 p.m.
P.S. – If you go out in the afternoon Wednesday, strong sunscreen and a strong umbrella are probably both good ideas. Temperatures are predicted to hit 100 degrees Wednesday — with the potential of severe thunderstorms.
