Bel Air 4th Of July 2017: Watch Fireworks, Parade

BEL AIR, MD — The Fourth of July Parade in Bel Air went on, despite the afternoon showers.

The fireworks also continued as planned.

Check out the fireworks show recorded by Bel Air Town Commissioner Brendan Hopkins.

Patch was front row at the Bel Air Independence Day Parade! Watch the live stream:

The parade started at 6 p.m. on Idlewild and South Main Street and ended on Gordon at North Main Street. The theme for the 2017 parade was "One From Many — Celebrating the Creation of the United States."

Despite torrential downpours around 5 p.m., the weather cleared up and the parade continued as planned.

More than 2,500 individuals participated in the mile-long parade, which 130 organizations entered, including floats, fire engines, marching units, military, cars, trucks, motorcycles, acrobats, costumed characters, bands and other performers.

Outside the county administrative building, judges evaluated how well entries illustrate the theme.

“This year’s theme is an important reminder that our country was founded by individuals who hailed from many different ways of life,” Bel Air Independence Day Committee President Don Stewart said. "They faced the challenges of their time by standing together and embracing the power of unity, and that’s an important message to remember as we celebrate America’s 241st Independence Day."

Fireworks launched at approximately 9:30 p.m. from Rockfield Park and could be viewed from different vantage points around the town of Bel Air.

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What's Open, Closed In Bel Air For 2017 Fourth Of July

The day kicked off with a flag raising and ends with a fireworks show.

A variety of activities—from a pancake breakfast to a costume contest—were held through the day.

The Bel Air Independence Day festivities are as follows on Tuesday, July 4:

• 6:45 a.m. Flag raising in front of Bel Air High School, featuring Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 30; American Legion Post #39.
• 7–11 a.m. Blueberry pancake and sausage breakfast at Bel Air High School; $8 for adults, $5 for kids under 10. Use the side entrance facing Baltimore Pike.
• 7:45 a.m. Flag raising at Rockfield Park
• 8:30 a.m. Horseshoe pitching at Rockfield Park (registration at 8 a.m.)
• 8:45 a.m. Flag raising at Hays House
• 8:45 a.m. Flag raising at Shamrock Park
• 9 a.m. Water balloon toss at Shamrock Park
• 9 a.m.-Noon Free face painting at Shamrock Park
• 9 a.m. Tours and patriotic children's games at Hays House, plus period music and country dance tunes from Catherine Street Consort with recorders, guitar and percussion.
• 10 a.m. Costume contest at Shamrock Park, including patriotic/historical and fantasy/creative categories
• 11 a.m. Uncle Sam Says at Shamrock Park
• 11 a.m.: Flag raising at Bel Air Elementary School
• 11 a.m. Bicycle registration and rodeo at Bel Air Elementary School on Lee Street lot. Trophies will be given for best decorated bike (boys and girls) with awards by age group: 5 and under; 6-8; 9-10; and 11-13.
• 11:30 a.m. Watermelon eating contest at Shamrock Park
• 4:30–6 p.m. Parade staging on South Main Street at Macphail Road, by the entrance to Homestead-Wakefield Elementary School
• 6 p.m. Parade down Main Street
• 9:30 p.m. Fireworks at Rockfield Park

Proud winners of the watermelon eating contest during previous Bel Air Independence Day festivities. Photo credit: Don Stewart. File photo from the Bel Air Fourth of July parade. Map above provided by the Bel Air Independence Day Committee.