Broad stripes and bright stars may be on the minds of many as the Fourth of July holiday week kicks off.

Akron will put on one big fireworks display downtown this year, with lots of spots to view it from, rather than having several shows sprinkled among city neighborhoods as it did last year.

We have a list of fireworks safety tips to help keep you and your loved ones out of the emergency room.

And if your pets are not fireworks fans, this holiday may be hard for them. Here are nine tips from the American Kennel Club to reduce anxiety and calm your pets.

Here’s to a loud week in the skies above Akron — check out our list of area displays.

Thursday, July 3

Blossom Music Center
8 p.m.
1145 W. Steels Corners Road
The Cleveland Orchestra and its Blossom Festival Band will host the annual Independence Day celebration, “Salute to America,” with fireworks at the end.
Tickets start at $25 and are available at www.clevelandorchestra.com.

Friday, July 4

Blossom Music Center
8 p.m.
1145 W. Steels Corners Road
The Cleveland Orchestra and its Blossom Festival Band will host the annual Independence Day celebration, “Salute to America,” with fireworks at the end.
Tickets start at $25 and are available at www.clevelandorchestra.com.

Akron RubberDucks vs. the Erie SeaWolves
7:05 p.m.
Canal Park, 300 S. Main St., with post-game fireworks.

Heart of Akron Festival downtown
9:45 p.m.
The Backyard at Lock 3 in downtown Akron
For the Heart of Akron Festival, the city is bringing the full fireworks display back to downtown Akron. Viewing locations include Lock 3, Main Street, Lock 3’s Backyard on Bowery, Canal Park stadium (with purchase of Akron RubberDucks’ tickets for that evening) and Waters Park (140 Olive St.). Rain or shine, the fireworks will light up the sky at 9:45 p.m. (or at the conclusion of the RubberDucks game if it goes beyond 9:45 p.m.). 

Fourth of July in the Park
Fairlawn’s Bicentennial Park
3486 S. Smith Road
Celebration starts at 5 p.m., with fireworks at 10 p.m.

Signal background

Saturday, July 5

Akron RubberDucks vs. the Erie SeaWolves
7:05 p.m.
Canal Park, 300 S. Main St., with post-game fireworks, Judy Resnik Akron Bicentennial bobblehead giveaway.

Annual Portage Lakes Boat Parade
1 p.m.
To sign up or get more information, call Andy Shriner at 330-400-4470.

Portage Lakes Sandcastle Building Contest
1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Portage Lakes State Park

The 39th annual Portage Lakes Fireworks
The largest privately funded show in Ohio, the fireworks will be shot from the Portage Lakes State Park at 10 p.m. (rain date is July 6).
More information and donations can be made by visiting www.PLFA.net.

Kent Heritage Festival
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. throughout the downtown area.
Fireworks at dark.

Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.

Kristine Gill is a freelance writer based in Willoughby with experience covering real estate, crime, higher education and health. She majored in newspaper journalism and creative writing at Kent State and runs a fiction workshop for local writers. She spent a decade living in Florida, working first as a reporter for the Naples Daily News. She later worked as a media relations specialist for the Collier County Sheriff's Office.