Celebrating Independence Day in and around Oxford

The Fourth of July is just around the corner, and celebrations in Oxford are set to start a week early.

The Oxford Masonic Lodge’s third annual car and bike show is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 28. Like last year, the event will lead into Oxford’s annual Freedom Festival Parade at 5 p.m.

This year’s car and bike show is scheduled on a Saturday and will run concurrently with the weekly farmers market in the morning. Beyond seeing hundreds of vehicles and enjoying food from local vendors, the event will feature live music from Highway 61 Revisited and Turntable.

The Freedom Festival Parade, held by Oxford’s Parks and Recreation Department, will begin at Kramer Elementary and continue to the Uptown parks.

Oxford’s Freedom Festival itself, also hosted by the Parks and Recreation Department, is set for Thursday, July 3, in the Oxford Community Park. The event will run from 5-10 p.m., with fireworks scheduled for the end of the evening. Last year’s festival included food and drinks, vendors, inflatables, games and live entertainment, and this year’s event is set to have a similar selection of activities.

The College Corner Old Fashioned parade and festival is scheduled for the Fourth of July itself. The festivities will begin with a parade at 3 p.m., followed by vendors and games at Stateline Ballpark in West College Corner, Indiana. Attendees can compete in a corn hole tourney, a sidewalk chalk contest, a three-legged sack race and more, according to a Facebook post from the College Corner Community Club.

The College Corner celebration will conclude with fireworks at 10 p.m., and the event has a rain date of July 5.

Other events

Looking to get out of Oxford? Butler County has plenty of festivities throughout the Fourth of July weekend.

Hamilton Fourth of July Celebration — Hamilton’s festivities for the Fourth of July will start with a parade at 10 a.m., beginning at the Butler County Fairgrounds. Attendees can enjoy open houses at the Soldiers, Sailors and Pioneers Monument (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), the Historic Log Cabin (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and the Butler County Historical Society (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) throughout the day. That Arena Rock Show will put on a free concert at RiversEdge at 6 p.m., followed by the city’s fireworks display at 10 p.m.

Red, White and KaBOOM (Fairfield) — Fairfield’s celebration will span two parks, starting with food trucks and performances by Cincinnati Circus in Village Green Park from 4-6 p.m. At 7 p.m., food trucks and activities will start in Harbin Park, concluding with a fireworks display at 10 p.m.

Middletown Fireworks and Festival — Middletown’s Fourth of July Festival will run 5-10 p.m. July 3 in Smith Park with a kids zone from 5-10 p.m., live music in two sets between 6 and 9:30 p.m., a national anthem flag jump from 7:30-8 p.m., a pyro jump at 9:45 p.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m. A parade is set for July 4 and will begin at 10 a.m. at Smith Park and continue along Main Street, Central Avenue and Charles Street.

All American Bash (West Chester) — West Chester’s Independence Day celebration stretches from noon to 11 p.m. on July 4 and July 5. The two-day festival will take place at the Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting with food, vendors, inflatables and live music, including a performance by Soul Asylum at 9 p.m. on July 4. A fireworks display is scheduled for 10 p.m. on July 5.

Thunder Saturday — The annual celebration at Hueston Woods State Park, set for 5-10 p.m. on July 5, will feature a cookout and a live DJ. The night will end with fireworks at 10 p.m.