Independence Day celebrations

Northwest Oklahoma is home to some pretty spectacular fireworks and festivities to celebrate America’s Independence Day. Here are some of the towns you can have fun at this summer:

ALVA—On Friday, July 4, Little Red Hens of Alva will host games and train rides in Hatfield Park from 9 AM to 1 PM with a free hot dog lunch starting at 11:30 AM. Alva’s Rotary Club will light the sky with a fireworks show at dark at Alva Recreational Complex.

BILLINGS—Billings Volunteer Fire Department will host the Fourth of July celebration on Friday, July 4. Parade is at 1 PM with cornhole at 2 PM, bingo at 3 PM, and turtle races at 4 PM. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be served at 6 PM, followed by the watermelon feed. Fireworks are at dark-thirty. A free swim will be offered all afternoon.

CANTON—Canton’s Freedom Fest is slated for Friday, July 4, from 6 to 10 PM at Tiger Stadium. There will be activities, inflatables, walking tacos, prize drawings, and of course, fireworks. Lucky Star Casino, located north of Canton Lake, will host a second fireworks show at dusk on Saturday, July 5.

CARMEN—Carmen’s traditional 5th of July celebration will be held Saturday, July 5. Day starts with coffee plus classic and collector cars from 9 AM to 11 AM on Main Street in front of After 55 building. The Carmen-Dacoma time capsule from 1995 will be revealed at the park at 11 AM. Everyone is invited to dip into the Carmen Pool by donation all afternoon and experience the bounce houses on the north side of the park. Turtle races start at 7:30 PM. There will be raffles, merchandise, and food truck delights available for purchase at the pavilion. Following the fireworks at dark is a concert by Lane Haas and the Heelers.

COVINGTON—American Legion Post 190 will celebrate the Fourth of July with pulled pork sandwiches and hot dogs by donation starting at 5:30 PM Friday, July 4, at Covington City Park. Meal will be followed by a flag folding and retirement ceremony. Fireworks will be available for purchase for families to enjoy on their own as there will not be a fireworks display this year.

DACOMA—Dacoma Volunteer Fire Department will host its 3rd of July Blowout on Thursday, July 3, in downtown Dacoma. Festivities include dunk tank, bounce house, water slide, money dig, wagon rides, turtle races, food trucks, and a silent auction. Fireworks show begins at dark.

DEER CREEK— Local shops in downtown Deer Creek will host a Star-Spangled Saturday on Saturday, June 28, from 10 AM to 4 PM. The day includes specials at each store, homemade ice cream, a picnic-style lunch, and giveaways.

FAIRVIEW—Fairview will celebrate with Red, White, and Boom on Thursday, July 3, at Specht Park starting at 4 PM. The evening includes food, turtle races, sidewalk chalk contest, cardboard boat contest, music by David Eagle Band, and will conclude with fireworks and a pyro musical by Broken Arrow Pyro.

FREEDOM—Freedom will host its Centennial Celebration and Business Bash on Saturday, July 5. Afternoon activities downtown include a cornhole tournament, ax throwing, and water inflatables for the kiddos. Several businesses will be open or set up on historic Main Street. Freedom Chamber of Commerce will host a hot dog feed, more activities, and a fireworks show starting at 7 PM at the rodeo grounds. Triple D Band will perform that night at the street dance downtown.

GARBER—Garber Community Improvement Association will host its annual Fourth of July celebration on Friday, July 4, at Garber City Park. The Freedom 5K kicks off at 8 AM, followed by the 1 Mile Fun Run at 9 AM. Participants are invited to a free swim at Garber Pool that afternoon with games beginning at 6 PM at the park, including wheat dig, tractor pull, turtle races, water balloon toss, watermelon feed, and adult softball.

GOLTRY—Goltry will celebrate Fourth of July on Saturday, June 28. Lunch will be served at NOON at Goltry Gym. Cornhole tournament begins at 1 PM at Goltry Park and a tractor pull at 4 PM at Goltry’s softball field. Dinner will be served at 5:30 PM at Goltry Community Center followed by free watermelon in the park. Ongoing activities through the day include flea market, bounces houses and water slides, a blood drive, and live music. Street dance will follow the fireworks show.

GUYMON—Guymon Chamber of Commerce will host a Fourth of July Event on Friday, July 4, from 10 AM to 2 PM at Thompson Park. Festivities include owner and animal patriotic contest, hot dog eating contest, kids’ bike parade, craft time, live music, jalapeno eating contest, and a watermelon feed. Susie Q’s will host their second annual Red, White, and Bake Off homemade dessert contest at 1 PM Friday, July 4, at Sunset Lake; to enter, stop by Susie Q’s, 124 Hwy 54, Guymon, for an entry form. City of Guymon is offering a free swim at the pool as well as train rides from NOON to 7 PM. Guymon Fire Department will launch fireworks starting at 10 PM.

HENNESSEY—Superior Tubular Services, 7843 U.S. 81, Hennessey, will host a Patriotic Night on Friday, June 27, at 7 PM south of Hennessey. There will be a food truck and fireworks.

HILLSDALE—Hillsdale will host its annual Fourth of July celebration on Friday, July 4, downtown. The day begins with breakfast at 7:30 AM followed by the national anthem at 8 AM and Firecracker 5K. Parade is at 10 AM with turtle races and games in the park afterwards. Lunch is at 11:30 AM. Cornhole and basketball tournaments will be held starting around NOON with championship games slated around 8 PM. Compete in the quiz bowl in the Hillsdale Christian School gym from 3 to 5 PM. Dinner is at 5:30 PM with cake walk at 6:30 PM and dessert auction at 7:30 PM. Fireworks will conclude the celebration at dark.

HUNTER—The town of Hunter will host a Fourth of July Parade at 9 AM on Friday, July 4. Participants are encouraged to meet up at the post office downtown.

MEDFORD—Medford will host its Fourth Fest Celebration on Friday, June 27, at Medford Airport. The national anthem will kick things off at 6:30 PM, followed by a flag raising ceremony and recognition of military veterans and active duty personnel. Free hotdog meal will be served. Activities include ax throwing, a hot dog eating contest, cupcake eating contest, musclemania, most patriotic dressed contest, turtle races, and tons of games for kids. Fireworks start at 10 PM.

POND CREEK—Pond Creek Community Partners and Pond Creek Fire Department will host Fourth of July festivities on Friday, July 4, at Grant County Fairgrounds. Fishing derby starts at 9 AM. Enjoy food and snocones at 7 PM with turtle races at 8:30 PM. Night concludes with fireworks.

WAKITA—Wakita’s Fourth of July celebration will be on Saturday, July 5, at 6 PM at Community Health Center. Kicks off with a hot dog and hamburger cookout, followed by a multitude of activities, and concludes with fireworks at dusk that can be seen with special 3-D glasses.

WAYNOKA—Waynoka Main Street will host the Independence Day Celebration on Friday, July 4, beginning at 1 PM with a free swim at Waynoka Municipal Pool. At 5:30 PM downtown, the fun begins with opening ceremonies and free hamburgers and hot dogs. There will be family friendly games and competitions too. Waynoka Fire Department will launch fireworks at dusk.

WOODWARD—Woodward Convention and Visitors Bureau will host Home of the Brave Festival on Friday, July 4, at Crystal Beach Park. The festival begins with a fishing derby and sidewalk chalk art contest in the morning, waterpark and mini golf in the afternoon, games, contests, and music in the evening, and concluding with fireworks at 10 PM.