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By Amy Blair Long, Syracuse.com

There’s no shortage of ways to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States of America in Central New York. 

Independence Day celebrations with fireworks shows and family-friendly activities are planned across the region. Many will be held on Saturday, July 4, but others are held earlier or later. The shows began in Phoenix on June 26.

You can find additional community- and history-centered official America250 events taking place around New York state. 

While some municipalities have events over multiple days, listings are organized by the date of their fireworks display. 

Did we miss one? Let us know in an email.

Saturday, June 27

Camillus

Veteran’s Memorial Park at Gillie Lake, 2259 Sands Road; Onondaga County

Camillus’ annual celebration this year features music by Mood Swing from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. followed by a fireworks show. 

Tuesday, June 30

Clay

4155 NY Route 31, and Clay Park Central, 4821 Wetzel Road; Onondaga County

Clay’s fireworks take place above the former Great Northern Mall parking lot around 9:30 p.m. Prior to that, at Clay Park Central, take in a car cruise at 5 p.m. and a concert at the park’s amphitheater at 6:30 p.m. At the mall’s parking lot, more than 40 food trucks will be stationed while a DJ spins tunes.

More information. 

Wednesday, July 1

DeWitt

Carrier Park, 1033 Kinne St., East Syracuse; Onondaga County 

The Town of DeWitt is hosting a large celebration from 5 to 9 p.m. with live music, concessions and sweet treats, face painting, kids’ inflatables and photo opportunities. Fireworks follow. A farmers market will be open 3 to 7 p.m. 

More information. 

Sandy Creek

Oswego County Fairgrounds, 291 Ellisburg St.; Oswego County

The opening day of the Oswego County Fair features a parade at 6 p.m., live music from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and fireworks around 9:30 p.m. Carnival rides will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. Other fair activities through the weekend include truck and tractor pulls, a barrel race, musical performances, line dancing, dairy bar, agricultural presentations and more. 

More information. 

Watertown

Thompson Park, 1 Thompson Park; Jefferson County

The City of Watertown’s annual Concert in the Park begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by fireworks at dusk.

More information. 

Thursday, July 2

Baldwinsville

Mercer Park, 1 North St.; Onondaga County

On Thursday evening, check out the car cruise at Baldwin Canal Square before heading to Mercer Park for performances by the high school modern and pep bands, followed by fireworks just before 10 p.m. On July 3, activities will be taking place from noon to 5 p.m. at both Baldwin Canal Square and Mercer Park, along with a ceremony at the Baldwinsville Visitor Center at 5:30 p.m.

More information. 

Skaneateles

Austin Park, 1 E. Austin St.; Onondaga County

The Skaneateles Community Center is hosting a free open house from 6 to 9 p.m. with food trucks, music, games, swimming, skating and more. Fireworks follow next door at Austin Park around 9:30 p.m. Additional events throughout the weekend include a Skaneateles Community Band performance, parade and time capsule burial, streetscape award contest and reading of the Declaration of Independence.

More information. 

Friday, July 3

Auburn

Emerson Park, 6914 E. Lake Road; Cayuga County 

The Syracuse Orchestra will perform arrangements by Mancini, Copland, Sousa, Berlin and others at the pavilion beginning at 8 p.m., followed by fireworks over Owasco Lake. Parking is $5.

Brewerton

Riverfront Park, 5449 Bennett St.; Onondaga County

The annual Fireworks on the River starts at 3 p.m. with food trucks, live music and performers, kids’ activities, games and face painting, local artisans and vendors at both Riverfront Park in Brewerton and Brewerton Center, 5501 Bartel Road. Watch the fourth annual boat parade at 4 p.m. Shuttle service will be available at multiple locations between 3 and 8 p.m. The fireworks show at the park will start at dusk.

More information.

Clayton

Frink Park, 300 Riverside Drive; Jefferson County

Enjoy a concert at Frink Park from 7:30 to 9:45 p.m., followed by the fireworks display.

More information.

Cortland

Greek Peak, 2177 Clute Road; Cortland County

Prior to the night’s fireworks over Hope Lake Park, The Lookout event venue is hosting a barbecue starting at 4:30 p.m., with live music from Virgil Cain from 6 to 9 p.m. Attendees should follow event parking signs upon arrival. 

More information.

Groton

Groton Elementary School fields, 516 Elm St.; Tompkins County

The Town of Groton presents music and food trucks starting at 6 p.m. Fireworks at dusk. 

Trumansburg

Taughannock Falls State Park, 1740 Taughannock Blvd.; Tompkins County

Watch from the lakeshore or multi-use fields at the park for an unobstructed view of the fireworks, which will start around 9 p.m. Parking is $5 per vehicle at the park. The fireworks are sponsored by The Inn at Taughannock Falls, which is hosting a ticketed party featuring live bands, a multi-course barbecue buffet, margarita station and burger bar. 

Saturday, July 4

Alexandria Bay

Scenic View Park, 8 Fuller Street; Jefferson County

View the fireworks over Heart Island’s beautiful Boldt Castle from the shores of the St. Lawrence River. 

Cazenovia

Lakeland Park, 15 Forman St.; Madison County 

The day kicks off with a 5K and 10K at 8 a.m. Stay in town for a pancake breakfast, sidewalk sales, swimming and a parade, stepping off at 1 p.m. from Cazenovia High School. Listen to live bands from 5 to 9 p.m. at Lakeland Park as you settle in for the fireworks at dusk.

More information.

Hamilton

Village Green, 1 Broad St.; Madison County

Celebrate from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a makers market, magic show, face painting and musical performances. The 10:30 a.m. parade will offer a sensory-friendly section for the first time at the end of the route. Fireworks take place at Colgate University at dusk. 

More information.

Manlius

1 Arkie Albanese Ave.; Onondaga County 

The Manlius fireworks begin at dusk, following Central New York’s largest Fourth of July parade and celebration. The festivities run from 4 to 10 p.m. with live music and food trucks; the parade steps off at 5 p.m. At 9 a.m., a pickleball tournament will serve as the grand opening of the village’s new courts.

More information. 

Preble

Dwyer Memorial County Park, 6799 Little York Lake Road; Cortland County 

The Cortland County Independence Day Spectacular starts at 8 a.m. Enjoy live music including the Old Timers Band, food and craft vendors, a beer and wine garden, historical displays, then fireworks at dusk over Little York Lake. You can tune your radio to X101 Always Classic for a synchronized concert that pairs with the fireworks show. Admission is free, parking is $5 per vehicle.

Rome

Bellamy Harbor Park, Mill Street at the Canal; Oneida County

Celebrate at the Mohawk River waterfront from 5 to 10 p.m. Yacht rock from Gridley Page AM Gold starts after 6 p.m., and several food and beverage vendors will be on hand. Fireworks begin around 9:30 p.m.

More information. 

Sackets Harbor

Sackets Harbor Battlefield, 504 W. Main St.; Jefferson County

A full day of festivities in downtown Sackets Harbor begins at 9:30 a.m. with a kids’ bike parade then moves into games, story time, a chicken barbecue and live music and other activities until 5 p.m. Watch the fireworks around 9:45 p.m. at the Sackets Harbor Battlefield. On July 5, there’s a community picnic and more live music.

More information. 

Syracuse

NBT Bank Stadium, 1 Tex Simone Drive; Onondaga County 

The Syracuse Mets will put on their largest fireworks display of the season on July 4, with a light-up baton giveaway before the post-game pyrotechnics. Can’t make it that night? They’ll be setting off fireworks on July 2 and 3, too. On July 5, in addition to the usual Sunday promos, the first 1,000 fans will take home a 250th Birthday of America Celebration Hawaiian Shirt jersey.

More information. 

The Syracuse Mets celebrated the Fourth of July this year with a fireworks display following a game at NBT Bank Stadium. (Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com)Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com

Utica

Harbor Point, 101 N. Genesee St.; Oneida County

In a new location this year, Utica’s celebration runs from 6 to 10 p.m. with food trucks, local vendors, live entertainment from Nervous Rex, Touch-a-Truck display, interactive children’s activities and fireworks at dusk. A parade on Genesee Street starts at 10 a.m.

More information. 

Vernon

4229 Stuhlman Road; Oneida County 

This three-day carnival at Vernon Downs Casino Hotel starts on Thursday, July 2 and runs through July 4, culminating in a fireworks show at 10 p.m. Enjoy rides and games for all ages, plus carnival food favorites. 

More information.

Sunday, July 5

Clinton

Village Green, West Park Row, and Clinton Central School, 75 Chenango Ave.; Oneida County 

Clinton’s Village Green will be bustling from 6:30 p.m. on, with a parade, food trucks, photo booth, lawn games, face painting and live band Stage Road. Nearby at the Clinton Historical Society, see the 100-year-old time capsule opening and America’s birthday cake. The fireworks begin at 9:30 at Clinton Central School. Rain date is July 11. 

More information. 

Fair Haven

Church and Main streets, and Fair Haven Central Park, Main Street and South Richmond Avenue; Cayuga County

Festivities begin July 2 and include the Great Fair Haven Medallion Hunt, an arts & crafts show, chicken barbecue, a cornhole tournament, Shane Hansen’s Rock-N-Circus, ice cream social, live music, boat parade and more. A mile-long parade takes place on July 2 at 7 p.m. and children’s parade on July 4 at 1:30 p.m. Fireworks over Little Sodus Bay at 10 p.m. on July 5 cap off the weekend.

More information. 

Oswego

Bridge and West 1st streets; Oswego County

The City of Oswego’s Bridge Street parade steps off at 1 p.m. followed by a block party on West 1^(st) Street until 10 p.m. Visit local businesses, participate in children’s activities and listen to live music from 4 to 9:30 p.m. Fireworks over the Oswego River start around 9:45 p.m. at the Pedestrian Bridge.

More information. 

Saturday, July 11

East Syracuse

East Syracuse Elementary School field, 230 Kinne St., Onondaga County

The 50^(th) annual Ronald A. Russell Jr. Fireworks Display starts at 6 p.m. and will feature the ESM marching band, food and drinks sold by local nonprofits and a performance by Faded Vinyl from 6:15 to 9:15 p.m. The fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. Rain date is July 12.

More information. 

Sunday, July 12

Mexico

Mexico Point Park, 120 Mexico Point Drive W.; Oswego County

MORE BY AMY BLEIER LONG

This free annual event on the western side of Little Salmon River has live music starting at 4 p.m. with fireworks at dark, around 9:15 p.m. Mexico Point Park is a carry-in, carry-out park. Rain date is August 2. 

More information. 

From Torres’ book, "When Rock Still Rolled Vol. 1 - SRV, The Music That Made Austin, Texas Famous”

I kept it basic for my first visit; smash burgers with Mac & cheese. They have a lot of options for the adventurous palate. Burgers well built, good flavor, and wow whatever they did to the bun made it next level. Mac & cheese has good texture, modest flavor (but can be made spicier, apparently). Good amount of food for lunch. I’ll be back.