Parades, Music, Fireworks: A Local Guide to Independence Day Weekend Festivities

Although the summer solstice on June 21 was the first official day of summer, many view the Fourth of July as the beginning of all things fun and sun.

Patch has you covered with the details on local fireworks
celebrations to officiallly kick off your summer -- after you’ve gotten your fill of cookout food.

July 3

North Hills 
The celebration in North Hills begins a day early, leaving you all day Monday to cook out at your leisure. The festivities kick off with a parade that starts at 4 p.m. at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, 920 Perry Highway. There will be games and inflatables at the park next to the Ross Municipal Building, complete with a concession stand. A band will perform from 7 to 9:30 p.m. when the fireworks show will begin. After the fireworks, the film “Avatar” will be screened.

July 4

Leetsdale

The Sewickley-area Independence Day celebration begins at 10 a.m. in Henle Park, but a parade at 2 p.m. officially starts the day of festivities. The parade begins in Leetsdale at the Quaker Village Shopping Center and will march down Beaver Street. All-day festivities, including food vendors, live music and entertainment, will continue at Henle Park on the corner of Beaver and Ferry streets. Fireworks begin at dusk. Town officials anticipate the display will begin at 9:30 p.m.

Edgeworth

A decades-long tradition in Edgeworth begins at 10 a.m. in the parking lot of the . The kid's bike parade, organized by borough residents, is a simple, patriotic get-together for  the neighborhood kids who decorate their bikes and meet at the elementary school for a parade. An car escorts the kids around a few blocks or so through the neighborhood, where the children are greeted by neighbors from the close-knit community. Parents bring snacks to share with the children afterward, and the young parade participants are biking back home by around 11 a.m. This is the second year the will participate, coordinators said.

Moon

The Independence Day celebration will begin at 4 p.m. on July 4 at Moon Park and will include children’s activities and live music. At 8 p.m., Moon native and singer Sarah Marince will perform, and will be handing out free ! The fireworks show begins at 10 p.m.

Zelienople

The celebrations for the Fourth begin at 11 a.m. with a parade on Grandview Avenue, ending at the Zelienople Community Park. There will be food, games and music at the park. The fireworks show will
start at 10 p.m.

McKees Rocks

A Saturday-night fireworks display by Zambelli Fireworks is set for 7 p.m. at Burkett Park.


Point State Park

The big Downtown starts with an afternoon of music and entertainment beginning at 1 p.m. The fireworks start at 9 p.m.