
It's almost time to celebrate the Fourth of July in Ohio, and many of your favorite events will be returning for Independence Day in 2021. Whether you're interested in fireworks, music, educational family fun, fantastic food, or all of the above, you're sure to find the perfect celebration in one of Ohio's many vibrant communities. We don't want you to miss any of the action on the biggest holiday of the summer, so we've put together a guide to some of the best Fourth of July events in the Northeast Ohio, Columbus, and Cincinnati areas that offer something for every member of the family to enjoy.
Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica Boardwalk – 2014 Sycamore St., Cleveland, OH 44113
The annual Light Up the Lake fireworks celebration can be viewed from a variety of great destinations throughout downtown Cleveland, including the beautiful Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica Boardwalk. This event is always a favorite for Northeast Ohio residents, with plenty of activities to enjoy downtown before the fireworks and festivities begin. As an open-air amphitheater with abundant lawn seating that's perfect for a Fourth of July picnic, Jacobs Pavilion is a great place to take in the sights of the evening. But if you have another favorite location, it's easy to see the fireworks display from anywhere downtown.
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Get ready for a full day of family fun in downtown Wadsworth with the First Friday: Celebrate America event for the Fourth of July. Enjoy specials and activities at more than 30 local businesses in downtown Wadsworth, then be sure to save room for dinner! There will be various great food trucks on-site serving all of your favorite dishes from Ohio and beyond. After dinner, settle in for one of Ohio's best fireworks shows, with fantastic views available from a variety of scenic locations downtown.
Sippo Lake Park – 5712 12th St. NW, Canton, OH 44708
Looking for a fun, unique way to keep younger members of the family entertained before the big fireworks shows on the Fourth of July? Kids are sure to love exploring the exciting, educational Red, White, & Blue Flag Avenue at Sippo Lake Park. Walk through the scenic park lined with flags as your kids learn all about the different red, white, and blue species of animals that call Ohio home, then wrap up your trip with a visit to the Wildlife Conservation Center. This event is available to be enjoyed every day during park hours for the two weeks around the Fourth of July holiday.
Thomas Worthington High School – 300 W. Dublin Granville Rd., Worthington, OH 43085
While Worthington's annual Rotary Family Picnic is delayed until Labor Day this year, you can still enjoy a festive fireworks display. The Thomas Worthington High School grounds will give viewers plenty of room to watch the annual celebration of the nation's independence. In addition to the stadium, the front lawn and other areas surrounding the venue will be available to attendees. In case of severe weather, the fireworks will be rescheduled with a rain date of Sept. 5th.
New Albany Middle School Greenspace – 6600 E. Dublin Granville Rd., New Albany, OH 43054
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The New Albany Independence Day Parade & Festival has a special theme this year, with frontline healthcare workers and first responders being honored throughout the day. After the parade, head to New Albany Middle School for a family-friendly festival that includes games for kids, costumed characters, live music, and food from some of Ohio's best food trucks.
Dublin Community Recreation Center – 5600 Post Rd., Dublin, OH 43017
The City of Dublin Independence Day Celebration features a full day of fun and special events around the city. Whether you're watching or participating, the annual Shem Sheldon Fishing Derby is the perfect way to spend your morning. The Fourth of July Parade is up next, with a parade route that runs throughout downtown Dublin. After the parade, there will be more than five hours of live music from a diverse selection of bands before the evening wraps up with Dublin's annual fireworks display.
705 E. Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202
If you love live music, you won't want to miss the Sawyer Point Summer Concert Series Fourth of July Celebration this year. The fun starts in the afternoon, with live performances from four different bands that will last well into the evening. There will be plenty of delicious food and drink to enjoy throughout, with a fantastic fireworks display set to follow all of the live music.
6201 Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45230
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Enjoy a family evening out at the amusement park on July 3 and experience one of the more unique Cincinnati Fourth of July celebrations at the Coney Island Park Balloon Glow. The show starts with over a dozen colorful, well-lit hot air balloons taking to the sky above the amusement park, which you can enjoy while experiencing all of the attractions that the park has to offer. After the balloons, there will be a spectacular fireworks finale to cap off an evening of family fun at the amusement park.
4200 Springdale Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45251
Get ready for a night of amazing live music and a fantastic fireworks display at the Colerain Township Fourth of July Spectacular. This event is free for everyone to enjoy, and the fun starts with an evening of music from the Classic Rock Experience. They'll be playing all of the hits from the '70s and '80s in an outdoor concert, providing the perfect way to get warmed up for the grand finale. After the concert, the skies will light up with a dazzling display of fireworks to close out the evening.
Independence Day celebrations are back with a bang for 2021! Which one will you attend?

Whether you're Irish or just Irish for a day, St. Patrick's Day is a huge holiday in Northeast Ohio. You'll find one of the country's largest St. Paddy's Day parades here, as well as pub crawls and even a sober gathering.
If you're planning to celebrate the holiday with some green beer or other adult beverages, make sure you've planned ahead for a safe ride home. Install Lyft and Uber apps on your phone in advance, and also consider public transportation. Cleveland's RTA, for example, typically offers all-day passes for St. Patrick's Day that you can buy on your smartphone.
Get in on the fun and celebrate the luck o' the Irish around Northeast Ohio. Check out the following events.
Starts on Superior Ave. at E. 18th St. and ends at the intersection of Rockwell Ave. and Ontario St.
March 17, 1:04 p.m. kickoff
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Cleveland has hosted a St. Patrick's Day Parade for 175 years, and the tradition continues in 2020. This year's theme is Ireland's Scenic Coastlines, so you'll see that some of the floats have incorporated this theme. Line up early so you can get a good view of the bands, floats, dancing groups, and much more as they wind their way through downtown Cleveland in one of the country's largest parades.
Brennan's Party Center, 1300 Triskett Road, Cleveland, OH
March 17, shuttle leaves Brennan's at noon
Make transportation to the parade easy on yourself by taking a shuttle from Brennan's and then keep the fun going by returning on the shuttle at 3:30. You'll be able to enjoy Irish dancers, DJ, and an open bar while you treat yourself to a corned beef buffet — a perfect way to celebrate the day! A children's buffet is also available at a reduced price for kids under age 12.
Check in at Dive Bar, 1214 W. 6th St., Cleveland, OH
March 14, 4 p.m.-12 a.m.

Pub crawls are a popular St. Patrick's Day activity, so gather some friends and try the Crawl with Us Public Crawl. You'll be able to visit eight popular venues, enjoy exclusive drink specials and two complimentary drinks/items, and try some food deals along the way. Save some energy for the after-party starting at 10 p.m. and make sure you're dressed up for St. Paddy's Day to compete in a costume contest with a $500 prize.
Starts on W. 6 th St., Cleveland, OH
March 7, 5 p.m.
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Get your Irish on early and get some exercise by running a 5K. You'll head through some of Cleveland's trendiest areas, including the Historic Warehouse District and over the Detroit-Superior Bridge. And since it's a St. Patrick's Day race, you'll also have some special perks! You'll get one Jameson shot or one Coors Light, drink specials at designated West 6th Street bars and be able to participate in a costume content throughout the event. Post-race food and refreshments are also offered.
Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron, OH
March 17, 5 p.m.

Many St. Patrick's Day events feature opportunities to drink alcohol, but some are alcohol-free if you'd like to celebrate while enjoying a sober environment. Sober Seventeenth features Irish music, dance, and heritage in a family-friendly, alcohol-free setting.
Ancient Order of Hibernians, 2000 Brown St., Akron, OH
March 8, starting at noon
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The AOH hosts a day of Irish-themed fun, complete with dancers and other entertainment. And if you think you may have some talent of your own, two open mic sessions are open during the day if you'd like to try to sing "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" or another favorite.
Flats East Bank & Warehouse District, Cleveland, OH
Saturday, March 14, 1 p.m.-9 p.m.
Get your green on, grab some friends, and enjoy some special perks throughout your pub crawl. A ticket gets you a free color-changing cup, entry to 5+ top venues, up to 50% off drink specials, and up to 25% off food specials. You'll also be able to party the day away with a kick-off, half-time, and after-party.
Akron Zoo, 505 Euclid Ave., Akron, OH
March 14, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
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Treat the kids to an afternoon at the zoo, where you'll also be able to enjoy a St. Patrick's Day-themed event. The zoo will feature food, music, crafts, and more fun that's related to the holiday.
Where will you be having fun in Northeast Ohio for St. Patrick's Day this year?
Fall is finally upon us! Crisp morning walks through crunchy leaves, homemade apple pie, pumpkin spice lattes and cozy sweaters—there are so many things we love about this season in Ohio. Don't miss out on these important rituals by attending one of the fall festivals and events happening in and around Cleveland this year!
And because we can't wait until the official first day of fall, we are starting the harvest party a bit earlier in September! From art shows to pumpkin festivals, here are the essential Cleveland events you can't miss this fall.