Starting Thursday, downtown Akron will be the site of a slate of music, food and other activities during The Heart of Akron Festival, which takes place July 3, 4 and 5 at Lock 3. Don’t miss the city’s signature downtown fireworks show on Friday, July 4.
Other highlights include the Bicentennial Downtown Parade Saturday morning and Sample the City, a food-tasting event, Saturday afternoon.
Here’s everything you need to know about this week’s (mostly free) festivities as the city celebrates its 200th birthday along with the Fourth of July holiday.
Thursday, July 3 – Heart of Akron Festival
- 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.: Lock 3 open with a variety of food vendors
- Features four returning rib vendors plus other food purveyors, including: The Smoothie Stand & Co., Southern Comfort Kitchen, HomeMade Delites, Grill Masters, The Food Depot, Lady T’s Soulfood, After Hours BBQ, Pigfoot BBQ, Stray Dog, Blue BBQ, Akron Pickle, Buzzy Bee Ice Cream, Bubblegum Concessions, Eddie’s Cheesesteaks, DonutNV, Novelty Ice Cream and more.
- Noon to 2 p.m.: JT’s Electrik Blackout
- 3 – 5 p.m.: Apostle
- 6 – 8 p.m.: Shane Vain & The Village Vandals
- 9 – 11 p.m.: The Shootouts
Suggested Reading
Friday, July 4
- 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.: Lock 3 open with a variety of food vendors
- (See list of vendors above)
- Noon to 2 p.m.: Umojah Nation
- 3 – 5 p.m.: Akronauts
- 6 – 8 p.m.: Nikki D & The Sisters of Thunder
- 9 – 11 p.m.: Off Leash
- 9:45 p.m.: Fireworks Spectacular
- Synchronized with the radio statin 91.3 The Summit. Enjoy the fireworks show in downtown. It will be visible from Main Street, Lock 3 and the Akron RubberDucks game at Canal Park.
- (The city is not doing fireworks shows at any neighborhood locations this year. Neither commercial nor consumer-grade fireworks can be set off in the city limits without a permit.)
Saturday, July 5
- 10 a.m.: Akron Bicentennial Downtown Parade
- The deadline to register for the parade is Tuesday, July 1. Visit Akron200.org/Parade for details — view the parade map here.
- The parade will kick off from 10 N. Main St. in front of the Akron Public Schools’ administration building, head east on East Market Street, south on South High Street, west on East Buchtel Avenue and north on South Main Street and return to 10 N. Main St.
- View the parade from either side of South High Street between East Market Street and Buchtel Avenue, on Buchtel Avenue between South High Street and South Main Street or along South Main Street between Buchtel Avenue (at Canal Park Stadium) and Cascade Plaza.
- (Note: This is not the same parade route as in previous years.)
11 a.m. – 11 p.m.: Lock 3 open with a variety of food vendors…