Independence Day is still a week and a half away, but anxious revelers can begin to celebrate tonight.
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Eighteen days full of fireworks, rides, games and treats kick off at 6 when the Marietta Carnival opens in War Memorial Park.
The Fourth of July events will extend through Saturday, July 11, ending with the Fireman's Carnival at Columbia Consolidated Fire Company.
The carnivals bookend more than a dozen county events, including Friday's Celebrate Lancaster! in downtown Lancaster, an "Old Fashioned 4th of July" in Lititz, and the annual concert by the 275th Army Band and cannon brigade in Long's Park on Sunday, July 5.
The Marietta carnival's debut tonight is part strategy — "less competition for fireworks" — and part tradition, according to Charles Shireman, who said the festivities have been held a week ahead of the July Fourth holiday for at least the last four years.
"I think the fact that we're ahead of the game will bring people out," said Shireman, president of the Marietta Carnival Association Inc. "The following Saturday, being the Fourth when everybody's sending up fireworks — who knows?"
Fireworks will be launched Saturday night at 11 as a finale to the four-night festival.
Celebrate Lancaster! — a second early event — is set for Friday at Binn's Park.
The Lancaster Symphony Orchestra and Heads Up Lancaster will perform before a fireworks display — hailed as the county's largest — illuminates night skies.
"We don't really like to compete with all the other events that are going on," said Jennifer Baker, director of the Mayor's Office of Special Events. "We actually get more fireworks for the money."
Sunny skies should bolster both events, according to Millersville meteoroligst Eric Horst.
After all the rain earlier this month, "we've strung together a few dry days here," he said.
Although there is a slight chance of rain Friday evening, Horst said the fireworks shows Friday and Saturday night will not be interrupted by the weather.
Thursday's high will reach 90 degrees, the highest of the month, before a possible rain shower, and Saturday will see temperatures in the low to mid-80s, Horst said.
Dry weather will be a welcome change for Shireman, who said last year's fireworks display was condensed due to two rain showers.
The weather will be the only change, since tonight's carnival will offer as full a lineup as last year, despite the struggling economy.
"Nothing has been scaled back," Shireman said.
But he said the economic climate may affect crowd turnout at the carnival, which has no admission fee.
"We're kind of banking on the economy to keep people at home," Shireman said. "If they don't have money to travel and go on vacations, they'll be around.
"We're a stay-at-home celebration."
The same goes for the Independence Day Grand Demolition Derby at Buck Motorsports Park, said announcer Oz Arment.
He said there has been an uptick in fans all summer "because of the economy," and expects a larger crowd on the park's July 4 celebration.
"They don't spend the money to go to the shore for the weekend," he said.
In addition to these events, county-wide events offer residents frugal ways to celebrate locally.
Tonight
Celebrations in Marietta kick off with a carnival at the War Memorial Ball Park, off East Walnut Street.
A DJ and karaoke stand will provide music, and rides, walk-in bingo, a "Kiddie Corner" of games and food vendors will be offered through the week. The carnival will run from 6-10 p.m. through Saturday.
There is no admission to enter. A $15 Ride-All-Night Pass may be purchased for Wednesday night only.
Friday
A day of festivities in downtown Lancaster will begin at 11:30 a.m. on North Queen Street, with various food vendors offering funnel cakes to crab cakes.
Heads Up Lancaster will kick off free performances at 7:30 p.m. in Binns Park, 100 block of North Queen Street. At 8:30 p.m., the headlining performance by the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra will feature a mix of patriotic, pop and light classical pieces.
At 10 p.m., a fireworks finale will be set off from the Duke Street Parking Garage.
Event parking will cost $3 in the Prince and Water street garages after 4:30 p.m. Additional spots will be available in the King Street Garage.
Saturday
The final night of the Marietta Carnival will begin at 6 p.m. and will feature local rock band Underground Hotel. At 11 p.m., a fireworks finale will cap off the four-night festival. In case of rain, fireworks will be held Sunday at 10 p.m. Parking will be provided first-come, first-serve, and donations will be accepted as payment.
Fireworks will be set off at Rockvale Outlets, 35 S. Willowdale Drive, at dusk. Food vendors and restaurants will be open and the East Lampeter-Strasburg Band will perform in the parking lot behind Restoration Hardware. Parking is free in any of the lots in the complex. Rain date is June 28.
Tuesday
A free band concert will be held in Lititz Springs Park at 7 p.m. The Air National Guard Band of the Mid-Atlantic will play patriotic, classical, swing and show tunes in the park's band shell. In the event of rain, the concert will be held in Warwick Middle School Auditorium.
Friday, July 3
In Lititz, the Lions Club Independence Celebration Parade will form at West Lincoln Avenue and Warwick Street and will travel to Lititz Square. Afterward, Flamin' Dick and the Hot Rods will hold a free concert in Lititz Springs Park.
The Laserdome, 2050 New Auction Road, will host an All You Can Play event from noon to 10 p.m. A $20 pass gains access to unlimited rounds of laser tag, video games, Halo 3 and laser concerts. For a $5 add-on fee, each participant gets two slices of pizza and unlimited popcorn and soda.
Saturday, July 4
In Ephrata, the annual 5-mile Ephrata Firecracker Run will start at 8:30 a.m. at Ephrata War Memorial Field. A 2-mile fun run will also be held. After the race, participants can relax at Ephrata Community Pool. Cost is $11, and registration will be held on race day from 6:30-8 a.m.
Later, fireworks will be set off at 9:30 p.m. at Lincoln Heights Outdoor Recreation Area, Joann and Crescent avenues. Admission is free.
An "Old-Fashioned 4th of July" celebration opens in Lititz Springs Park at 10 a.m. The daylong festivities include concerts, games, the 20th Annual Baby Parade and the 167th Grand Illumination of 7,000 Candles. The celebration will finish with a musical fireworks finale at 10 p.m.
Admission at the gate is $10 for adults, $4 for children ages 2-10 and free for anyone under 2. Adult advance tickets are $8, and may be purchased through July 3 at the park's Welcome Center; Bomberger's Store, 555 Furnace Hills Pike; McElroy Pharmacy, 100 E. Main St., Lititz; and Stauffers of Kissel Hill, 1050 Lititz Pike.
Another "Old Fashioned 4th of July" event will be held in Lancaster in Musser Park from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Daylong music and food vendors will be offered, as well as kids' activities including games, face painting, train rides and art contests. At noon, a ceremony will be held to raise the American flag. Admission is free.
The Lancaster Barnstormers will face the York Revolution at 6:35 p.m., followed by a fireworks show. Seats in the picnic area, usually restricted to groups, will be offered individually for $27 for adults and $23 for kids under 12, and will include two hours of all-you-can-eat food. Seats elsewhere cost $6-$11.
In Mountville, a free fireworks show will be set off at dusk in Froelich Park. A DJ will provide music, and the Mountville Pool will be open before and after the show. Parking at the park is free.
The 35th Annual Independence Day Grand Demolition Derby will be held at Buck Motorsports Park, Route 272. in Quarryville. Gates open at 5 p.m. for the 7 p.m. show. Afterward, 3-D glasses will be given out to enhance the fireworks show. Tickets cost $12 for adults, $6 for children.
Sunday, July 5
The 257th Army Band will perform in the annual Long's Park show at 7:30 p.m. A cannon brigade will accompany the band, and fireworks will follow the free performance.
July 7-11
A four-night Fireman's Carnival will be held in Columbia from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Columbia Consolidated Fire Company, 10th and Mifflin streets. Local bands will play every night. The fair will wrap up with a fireworks display Saturday at 10:15 p.m. Admission is free.
Staff writer Katy Hopkins can be reached at khopkins@LNPnews.com or 481-6028.
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