For America’s 250th Celebration, Marblehead, Danbury and Lakeside are collaborating to create a unique Fourth of July Weekend experience. Several community leaders have been meeting to plan this celebration since last summer. Residents and visitors are invited to gather and participate in the many celebrations happening throughout this momentous weekend.
For a full schedule, visit lakesideohio.com/calendar.
Fourth of July Parade in Marblehead & Lakeside
This Fourth of July, celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with a one-of-a-kind community tradition as Lakeside Chautauqua, the Village of Marblehead and Danbury Township come together for an expanded patriotic celebration featuring a peninsula-wide Float Parade.
Rain or shine, the festivities begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 4, as the Float Parade steps off from James Park in Marblehead. From there, the approximately two-mile route will proceed west on Prairie Street, turn left onto Stone Street, right onto Elliott Street and continue along Harsh Road, into Lakeside’s West Second Street Gate. Spectators are invited to gather along the entire route to celebrate America’s 250th together as a community.
Friday, July 3 – Sunday, July 5: Lakeside Business District
Visit the Lakeside Business District for a full America 250th celebration experience with more than 30 unique businesses. Ask for a shopping and dining pass at the Lakeside entrance for free admission and get a taste of Lakeside. Note that individuals will need to purchase an auto pass.
Friday, July 3 – Sunday, July 5: America’s 250th Marblehead Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Scavenger Hunt
The Marblehead Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is hosting a free America’s 250th Scavenger Hunt the weekend of Friday, July 3, to Sunday, July 5. Visit participating merchants throughout Marblehead and Lakeside. Stop, shop and search for the hidden USA 250 mini-discs. Be sure to write your name and phone number on the back of each disc collected and drop into the bag provided at each stop. A drawing to win the grand prize gift basket will be held on Monday, July 6.
Friday, July 3
9 a.m. Pet Parade | Lakeside, Pavilion Circle (Purchase admission & parking at the Lakeside entrance) Individuals and their pet pals are invited to gather. Pets will showcase their favorite tricks, fanciest costumes and unique personalities. Awards will be presented. This year’s grand marshal is Kalahan, Danbury Township Police Department’s K9, who will be escorted by an officer. Participants should arrive by 8:45 a.m.
7:30 p.m. The Ultimate Tribute to Elvis featuring Mike Albert & the Big “E” Band | Lakeside, Hoover Auditorium (Purchase admission & parking at the Lakeside entrance) Experience an unforgettable night of rock & roll as Mike Albert & the Big ‘E’ Band returns to Lakeside with a powerful tribute to the music and enduring legacy of Elvis Presley.
Saturday, July 4
9:30 a.m. Fourth of July Parade | Marblehead and Lakeside (free in Marblehead, ask for a Shopping & Dining pass at Lakeside entrance, auto pass purchase required). Gather together with family and friends, bring your blankets and lawn chairs, and enjoy the community-wide Fourth of July Parade on the Marblehead Peninsula.
Parade Route: Starts from James Park in Marblehead. From there, the approximately two-mile route will proceed west on Prairie Street, turn left onto Stone Street, right onto Elliott Street and continue along Harsh Road, into Lakeside’s West Second Street Gate. Spectators are invited to gather along the entire route to celebrate.
10 a.m. Lakeside’s Bike Parade | Lakeside (Ask for a Shopping & Dining pass at Lakeside entrance, auto pass purchase required).The Parade begins at 10 a.m. at Perry Park and proceeds west along Second Street. Participants of all ages are invited to arrive by 9:30 a.m. at the lakefront path near Perry Park with an already-decorated bike, scooter or stroller. Before the parade begins, families should designate a meeting location for children after they pass through the route. The Bike Parade ends at Maple Avenue and Second Street, with many families choosing to meet on Third Street between Oak and Maple Avenues.
4 p.m. Cats on Holiday | Lakeside Steele Memorial Bandstand (Purchase admission & parking at Lakeside entrance) Enjoy an evening of music as Cats on Holiday bring the soundtrack to Lakeside’s Fourth of July celebration. This Cleveland-based band blends Louisiana-inspired rock, roots and Zydeco, entertaining audiences for more than 20 years.
6 p.m. Firelands Symphony Orchestra performs “A Patriotic Fourth” | Marblehead Lighthouse (free) The Firelands Symphony Orchestra returns to the Marblehead Lighthouse for a free, patriotic pops concert in celebration of Independence Day. Please bring your own chair or blanket.
9:45 p.m. Fireworks from the Lakeside Dock & Barge in Lake Erie | Lakeside (Purchase admission & parking at Lakeside entrance) Gather together with family and friends, bring your blankets and lawn chairs, and enjoy the fireworks. It will be a one-of-a-kind celebration! The fireworks display will be set to music.
Sunday, July 5
Local Church Worship Services | Various Locations
10:30 a.m. Hoover Community Worship Service | Lakeside Hoover Auditorium (free, ask for a church pass) Captain Nathan Solomon will serve as Preacher of the Week, during America’s 250th Celebration.
2 p.m. Vintage Baseball Game | James Park, Marblehead (free) Baseball and ice cream, with a little history thrown in – what a fun way to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. The Spiegel Grove Squires will face the Marblehead Lakeside Stonecrushers in a vintage game of base ball, just a short walk from Brown’s Dairy Dock. Pick up a treat from Brown’s Dairy Dock and bring your lawn chair and blankets. The public is invited to attend the game, which will begin at 2 p.m.
2 p.m. America 250 Celebration Puzzle Competition | Lakeside, Wesley Lodge (Purchase admission & parking at Lakeside entrance) As America commemorates its 250th anniversary, celebrate with an afternoon of teamwork, problem-solving and fun at the America 250 Celebration Puzzle Competition. Twenty-five teams of up to four people will race against the clock to complete a 500-piece puzzle in two hours. Members of the winning team will each receive a Daily Chautauqua Pass and parking for the 2027 summer season. On the day of the competition, teams should arrive at least 15 minutes early to sign in and receive final instructions. Bring a clever team name! Each team will get to take home its puzzle after the event. Register Now
6 p.m. American Musical Productions Lakeside Band Concert | Lakeside, Steele Memorial Band Stand (Purchase admission & parking at Lakeside entrance) American Musical Productions, under the direction of Joseph N. Rubin, will present a Lakeside Band Concert at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 5 at the Steele Memorial Bandstand. From the 1890s through the 1920s, Grant Connell and Harry Wideman conducted the Lakeside Band and entertained throngs of guests at Lakeside’s bandstand every afternoon. Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with an authentic “living history” concert that recreates a July 1927 Lakeside Band program.
