Kids participating in the Lapeer Community Church’s vacation bible school at Michigan Christian Youth Camp, along with pastor Rodney Sanderson-Smith and other church leaders, used sparklers Thursday evening to spell out a happy Fourth of July message. Photo by Jacob Hunsanger LAPEER COUNTY — Wednesday, July 4, is one of the most important national holidays celebrated each year in the United States. It marks the birth of our nation with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. For well over 200 years, America has held a day of celebration on that date and every year Lapeer County residents turn out in large numbers to take part in all the fun within the county.

Fireworks are the traditional means of celebrating the Fourth of July, and Lapeer County will have plenty of them. The largest show in the county takes place every year in Lapeer at the ball fields of Lapeer West High School. Sponsored by the Lapeer Area Chamber of Commerce, the Lapeer fireworks display will begin at dusk.

The fireworks in Lapeer are always well attended, with crowds of area residents and visitors flocking to the high school for a close-up view of the show. Others watch the fireworks across the street at Chatfield School or as far away as the Kohl’s and Meijer parking lots on DeMille.

Northeast of Lapeer, the annual North Branch Days festival will be winding to a close Wednesday evening, but not without a bang. A large fireworks display will be held again this year at North Branch High School on Brush Street, beginning at dusk.

Earlier in the day in North Branch, a Fourth of July parade will be held along Huron Street in downtown North Branch starting at 11 a.m. Local veterans will walk down the street, along with the North Branch school marching band, floats and a long line of tractors.

Hadley holds its annual celebration on the Fourth of July as well, kicking off with a children’s parade through town at 10 a.m. The main parade, according to the Chamber of Commerce, will begin at noon and will include floats, tractors and more. After the parade, the town will stay lively with activities running all day long including an art fair and wine tasting at Le Fleur Decor. Other activities will include a petting zoo and face painting, while the Lions Club will be selling hot dogs to hungry guests.

The popular student rock band Third Degree Burns will also be performing again this year at the Old Town Hall building in downtown Hadley. The band will begin at 11 a.m. and play until the parade starts at noon, and then they will perform again from 1-3 p.m.

A number of lakes in the area also will be holding fireworks displays over the weekend and on the Fourth of July. On Saturday, fireworks displays will be held at dusk over Lake Nepessing and Lake Lapeer, both of which are in Elba Township.

Otter Lake will let freedom ring on Saturday, July 7 with its fireworks display to be launched from Otter Lake Village Park area. The community will have a parade at noon, carnival rides for the kids and musical entertainment throughout the afternoon.

And with recent state legislation allowing for the sale and use of all types of fireworks in Michigan, Lapeer County residents will likely be holding many of their own small-scale fireworks displays at home, as they celebrate the day with family and friends — and likely a barbecue or two.