News briefs: June 30, 2025

83rd Woodville 4th of July

Woodville’s 83rd 4th of July Celebration will be held July 3-5 in Trail Marker Park, 308 S. Cherry St.

The event features a wide range of family fun including a parade, a 5K race, food, music, a car show and, of course, fireworks.

Schedule highlights include:

• Wednesday: Beer tent open with entertainment (5 p.m.); early race packet pick-up (7-9 p.m.).
• Thursday: Midway opens (5 p.m.); Car Show in the Orchard (5-8 p.m.); Bingo tent opens (6 p.m.); Kiddie Tractor Pull (6:15 p.m.); “Lined Up: Line Dancing,” (7-9 p.m.); Beer tent opens (7 p.m.) with “Bad Ether” performing (7:30 p.m.).
• Friday: Midway opens (12 p.m.); “Dance Party with A & J Sound,” (6 p.m.); Bingo tent opens (6 p.m.); Beer tent open (7 p.m.) with “Mood Lifters” performing (7:30 p.m.); Kids One-Mile Fun Run (Bridge at 7:04 p.m.); 5K Race (Bridge at 7:30 p.m.).
• Saturday: Grand Parade (noon); Midway opens (noon); Touch-A-Truck (Pool parking lot from 1-3 p.m.); Jamey Leigh Music (1-4 p.m.) Woodville High School/Woodmore Reunion (Beer tent, 2-5 p.m.); Kindred Soul performs (6 p.m.); Bingo tent opens (6 p.m.); Beer tent opens (7 p.m.) with “Dem Bonz” performing (7:30 p.m.); Fireworks in the park (10 p.m.).

Cash drawings will be held daily Thursday-Saturday.

For more information and a complete schedule, visit woodville4th.com.

Independence Day celebration set

The Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce will present the annual Independence Day Celebration Thursday, July 3, starting at 5 p.m. along Mill Street riverfront.

Admission is free.

The celebration will feature food vendors, local entertainment a car show, a Royal Duck Race, DJ music and a bounce house. The Boy Scouts will host Gaga Ball and Archery ranges. Fireworks will cap off the evening at dusk.

For more information, visit oakharborohio.net or call 419-898-0479.

Toledo Concert Band to perform at Hayes Center

The Toledo Concert Band, featuring members of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, will perform a variety of patriotic music to celebrate July 4 during the annual Independence Day Concert at the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums in Fremont.

The concert will be held from 2-3:30 p.m. on the lawn in front of the historic home at Spiegel Grove, the estate of President Rutherford B. Hayes and his wife, Lucy.

Concert admission is free. Attendees are asked to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. The concert band’s repertoire changes from year to year, but it always plays Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” while Civil War reenactors fire cannons in sync with the music.

Parking is available on the grounds, weather-permitting. Overflow parking is available on the street and in ProMedica Memorial Hospital’s parking lots at Buildings A and B, located at 605 Third Ave. Hayes Presidential is a short walk to the east of the hospital parking lots. For parking updates, visit rbhayes.org.

 The museum will be open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The Hayes Home will have tours hourly from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The research library will be closed for the holiday.

Call 419-332-2081, visit rbhayes.org or follow Hayes Presidential’s social media pages.

Toledo 4th of July celebration set

Area residents are invited to gather along the riverfront for Toledo’s annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration on Friday, July 4.

Fireworks will launch at dark, with prime viewing from both Promenade Park downtown and Glass City Metropark.

This year’s festivities include expanded food and drink options, transportation support, and coordinated viewing experiences across both banks of the river.

Promenade Park: Promenade Park will be transformed into a riverfront festival zone with local food trucks and drink vendors beginning in the early evening. The splash pad will remain open during the event. Beer and spirits will be available from 5:30-10 p.m. Coolers are not permitted inside the park.

Glass City Metropark : Glass City Metropark’s expansive open areas offer plenty of room for visitors to enjoy the fireworks. Designated event zones will be located at The Ribbon and the Glass City Pavilion & Event Lawn, where guests can enjoy food and beverage services.

On July 4, all vehicle access will route through a single entrance at 1521 Front St., via the shared drive with the National Museum of the Great Lakes. Once on-site parking reaches capacity, the park will close to vehicular traffic and only walk-in traffic will be permitted.

Additional parking and fireworks viewing will be available at Glass City Upriver (formerly International Park). There will be no vehicle exit from this area between 9:45 p.m. to approximately 11 p.m., while public safety authorities clear the designated fireworks safety zone.

Middlegrounds Metropark: Middlegrounds Metropark will be closed to vehicular traffic at 5 p.m. but will remain open for walk-in traffic for fireworks viewing.

Viewing tips and reminders

• Use only designated paved parking areas. No parking in grassy or natural areas at Metroparks viewing sites. Towing will be enforced.
• Do not stop on the side of the road to watch fireworks.
• Avoid blocking intersections to ensure smooth flow.

Northwood road closure

The Northwestern Water and Sewer District reminds area residents that through August, Sheffield Place between Venice Drive and Andrus Road in Northwood will be closed to thru traffic for waterline replacement. Local traffic will be maintained.

The District notes that its office will be closed on Friday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. Call 419-354-9090 for water and sewer emergencies.

Blood donors needed

As the Fourth of July holiday week gets closer, the American Red Cross asks area residents to make a blood or platelet donation appointment to help power the blood supply through mid-summer. While all blood types are needed, donors with type O blood are most urgently needed.

Visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App to make an appointment.

All who come to give July 1-14 will get a pair of Red Cross sunglasses, while supplies last. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/goodr.

GLCAP Summer Crisis Program

Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLCAP) will help eligible Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca and Wood county residents stay cool during the summer months through the Summer Crisis Program, available July 1 through Sept. 30.

For more information. visit glcap.org/summercooling or to apply, call 567-432-5046.

Sauder Village Independence Day

Sauder Village invites area residents to make memories at the historic village this Independence Day.

From Wednesday, July 2 through Sunday, July 6, book a site at the Sauder Village Campground for Red, White and Blue Camping. Campers are encouraged to deck out their sites in patriotic flair for the campsite decorating competition, join in tie-dyeing, pedal in the bike parade and light up the night at the Red, White and Blue Glow Party.

On Friday, July 4, at 11 a.m., Sauder Village will host a naturalization ceremony, where individuals from around the world take the Oath of Allegiance to become U.S. The Fort Defiance Dixieland Jazz Band will provide music.

End July Fourth with a sweet treat at the Soda Fountain during special summer hours from 6–9 p.m. Continue the celebration on Saturday, July 5, with special summer hours at both the 1920s Speakeasy and Soda Fountain.

For rates, dates, hours, memberships and ticket purchases, visit saudervillage.org or call 800-590-9755.